ETW Staff– Mumbai
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that nearly 1,000 people are expected to attend its 70th annual general meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Doha, Qatar from June 1- 3, 2014. Hosted by Qatar Airways, the event will take place under the patronage of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
Tony Tyler, director general and CEO, IATA, said, “Doha will be the center of the air transport industry next week as its leaders discuss the most important commercial aviation-related issues of our times; safety, security, environment, distribution and financial sustainability among others.”
The IATA AGM draws together the CEOs and senior management of its 240 member airlines that carry 84 per cent of global traffic. They will be joined by leaders from across the spectrum of industry stakeholders including governments, partners in the value chain and other international organisations.
“IATA’s members come from all parts of the world and operate on a variety of business models. We have very large global network airlines and we also have much smaller regional airlines. They compete vigorously in what is a very tough business. But when they are at the AGM, they are focused on the industry and make the best decisions possible to secure its future success,” said Tyler.
This will be the fourth time that the AGM is hosted in the Middle East. Aviation in the region supports some two million jobs and US$ 116 billion in economic activity. “The AGM will be a major event for aviation in the Middle East, and particularly for the airlines based in the Gulf region. These carriers, including Qatar Airways, have been at the core of a major shift in global aviation. In just over a decade, the share of global traffic accounted for, by Middle East airlines increased from four per cent to nine per cent. Much of this growth has been realised here in the Gulf,” added Tyler.
IATA’s 70th AGM coincides with the global celebration of the first 100 years of scheduled commercial aviation. The commercial airline industry began with a flight across Tampa Bay, Florida on January 1, 1914.
“Qatar is an excellent venue for the AGM, at which we celebrate the first 100 years of scheduled commercial aviation. The country is using aviation-enabled connectivity as a cornerstone of its economic and social development,” said Tyler.
