United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Willie Walsh to head international airline body IATA
Willie Walsh, the former British Airways boss, will take over as director general and CEO of the international airline body IATA next March.
He will replace Alexandre de Juniac, who announced his intention to step down from the role earlier this year.
The IATA Board of Governors will recommend Willie, the former CEO of BA parent IAG, take over the role at today’s AGM.
Alexandre said it had been ‘a privilege of a lifetime to serve the global air transport industry’. He has been head of IATA since 2016, having joined from Air France-KLM where he was chairman and CEO.
"Over the last years IATA has strategically increased its relevance as the voice of the global airline industry," he said. "IATA has set the course to restore air connectivity amid the pandemic with systematic pre-departure testing.
"We are well into preparations to fulfil critical vaccine distribution needs. In parallel, we have restructured IATA to survive the crisis and be ready to support the industry recovery with an organization dimensioned to serve a smaller industry.
"And we have a motivated team that is determined to get the job done. The building blocks for an industry recovery are in place. And now is the right time to hand over IATA’s leadership for the long process of recovery."
Willie will take over on 31 March 2021.
By Linsey McNeill, Editor (UK)
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel