Takeaways From the IATA Annual Meeting


IATA Director General Willie Walsh speaking at the organization's annual meeting in Istanbul.

The mood in Istanbul at the IATA Annual General Meeting was definitely jubilant this year. Despite all the challenges airlines face — and, frankly, when do they not face challenges? — attendees celebrated strong demand, cheaper fuel, and other tailwinds. Will the good times continue? Edward Russell, fresh off the plane back, and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, the industry's sustainability challenge and IndiGo's international plans.

Reading List

Up Next

The Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

Riyadh Air CEO on Building an Airline from Scratch

If you thought being CEO of an international airline was tough, try starting one from scratch. That's the formidable challenge facing Tony Douglas and his team as Riyadh Air prepares to launch later this year.
The Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

What India's Biggest Airline CEOs Think

Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat debrief on two big-name interviews from the Skift India Forum 2025. The pair digest key takeaways from Air India CEO, Campbell Wilson, and Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo.
The Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

The Kings of the Caribbean

In part one, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat examine the key players serving the Caribbean from the United States. In part two, we take a closer look at the latest financials from Lufthansa.
The Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

The World's Most Profitable Airlines

With most of the key results in, we've a good idea of how the world's airlines performed in Q4 2024. Not everyone was a winner, but there was plenty to cheer about.
The Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

The Day Southwest Airlines Changed Forever

Bags fly free has been in the airline's DNA for as long as anyone can remember. What does it mean for the airline when that’s not always true anymore?