New director general of the International Air Transport Association (Iata), Willie Walsh, has officially taken over from Alexandre de Juniac who has stepped down after four years at the helm.
“In normal times over four billion travellers depend on aviation each year, and the distribution of vaccines has put the value of efficient air cargo in the spotlight,” said Walsh.
He joins Iata after a 40-year career in the airline industry. Walsh retired from the International Airlines Group (IAG) in September 2020 after serving as its CEO since its inception in 2011. Prior to that he was CEO of British Airways (2005-2011) and CEO of Aer Lingus (2001-2005). He began his career in aviation at Aer Lingus in 1979 as a cadet pilot.
He also served on the Iata Board of Governors for almost 13 years between 2005 to 2018.