The event is being held in the UAE for the first time and hosted by Emirates Airline
The 80th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from June 2-4, says the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
According to a press statement by IATA, the event is being held in the UAE for the first time and hosted by Emirates Airline. Over 1,500 participants are expected to be in attendance, including industry leaders, government officials and media.
The statement adds that Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy for the United Arab Emirates is expected to welcome delegates to Dubai with an opening keynote speech to the AGM.
Willie Walsh
“Dubai’s world-leading connectivity places it at the crossroads of the planet. And it will soon be the centre of the airline industry’s leadership as it hosts the 80th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit,” says Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
Tim Clark
“We look forward to hosting our industry colleagues in Dubai, Emirates’ home and hub. This is a city that has forged its place in global aviation and prospered, thanks to its visionary leaders and progressive policies that recognise air transport’s role as a key economic enabler. In line with this, last year aviation contributed 27 pc to Dubai’s GDP and supported USD 37 billion in gross value added. There are always exciting new developments in Dubai, and I hope visiting delegates will get to a chance to experience this buzzing city and the UAE’s renowned hospitality for themselves,” says Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline.
The World Air Transport Summit (WATS) immediately follows the AGM for a comprehensive programme addressing the critical issues facing aviation.
“The commitment to achieve NetZero carbon emissions by 2050 will top the agenda of the 80th IATA AGM and World Air Transport Summit. We will explore solutions to accelerate progress, particularly with the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and the potential for carbon removals. We will also take stock of our progress on safety, financial sustainability, and other key industry topics. It is important that we put these challenges on the table so that all stakeholders, including governments, have a clear understanding of what airlines need to connect people and economies safely, efficiently, and ever more sustainably,” said Walsh.
Attending the event will be names like Vanessa Hudson, Group CEO and Managing Director, Qantas, Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines and Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic Airways.
The statement adds that topics covered will vary from ‘Big Picture’ view of challenges facing the airline industry with changing energy markets, an increasingly complex global geopolitical situation, and shifting supply chains/trade patterns. The potential for AI in aviation, advancing sustainability with SAF and carbon removals, how aviation and tourism can work better together, and the prospects for air cargo.
A programme highlight will be the fifth edition of the ‘IATA Diversity and Inclusion Awards’. These awards recognise organisations and individuals who are making a leadership contribution to the 25by2025 initiative to improve the gender balance in aviation, IATA says.
It adds that the benefits of global connectivity is a topic that will underpin the entire programme.
IATA adds that globally aviation directly employs 3 million people and is a key enabling part of the travel and tourism value chain which supports some 320 million jobs and accounts for about 10 pc of all economic activity. Moreover, air cargo delivers USD 8.3 trillion of trade annually, some 35 pc of total trade.
For Dubai, Oxford Economics estimates that aviation contributed 27 pc to Dubai’s GDP and supported USD 37 billion in gross value added in 2023. This is projected to increase to USD 53 billion dollars in 2030, in line with Dubai’s growth, the statement adds.
