Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac of the world aviation organization IATA (International Air Transport Association) recently announced in a press release that he will step down from his position at IATA on March 31, 2021. The now 58-year-old Frenchman Alexandre de Juniac started at IATA in 2016, before that he was top man at Air France-KLM. Irish Willie Walsh, who recently retired from the IAG (International Airlines Group), is recommended by the IATA Board of Directors as successor to the Juniac at the general meeting. They have yet to officially approve this

“This decision was not easy for me. It has been a privilege in my life to serve as the head of IATA to serve the global air transportation industry - what I call the business of freedom. In recent years, IATA has strategically increased its relevance as the voice of the global aviation industry. This has become clear during the COVID-19 crisis. IATA has charted the course to restore air connectivity amid the pandemic with systematic pre-departure tests. We are well on the way to preparing to meet critical vaccine distribution needs. At the same time, we have restructured IATA to survive the crisis and be ready to support the industry's recovery with an organization sized to serve a smaller industry. And we have a motivated team determined to get the job done. The building blocks for a recovery of the industry are in place. And now is the right time to hand over IATA leadership for the long recovery process, ”said Juniac.

“Alexandre has led our industry in extraordinary times. Under his guidance IATA become a stronger and even more relevant organization. I am accompanied by all the members of the Board of Directors who thank him for his service and wish him the best in his next endeavors. I am also pleased that we are able to present a very suitable candidate to the 76th IATA AGM to succeed Alexandre for this important role. I am confident that Willie will be a great Director General for IATA, ”said Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the IATA Board of Governors and CEO of Lufthansa.

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