Global airline industry leaders will come together in Dubai for the 80th International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual general meeting and World Air Transport Summit (WATS) next week.
The event, hosted by Emirates Airline, will see more than 1 500 delegates including industry leaders, government officials, and media, arrive in the city from 2 to 4 June.
HE Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates, is expected to deliver the key note address at the AGM.
“Dubai’s world-leading connectivity places it at the crossroads of the planet. And it will soon be the centre of the airline industry’s leadership as it hosts the 80th International Air Transport Association annual general meeting and World Air Transport Summit,” said IATA director general, Willie Walsh.
“We look forward to hosting our industry colleagues in Dubai. This is a city that has forged its place in global aviation and prospered, thanks to its visionary leaders and progressive policies that recognise air transport’s role as a key economic enabler. In line with this, last year aviation contributed 27% to Dubai’s GDP and supported $37 billion in gross value,” Walsh said.
WATS immediately follows the AGM, where a comprehensive programme will focus on the critical issues facing aviation.
“The commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 will top the agenda of the 80th IATA annual general meeting and World Air Transport Summit. We will explore solutions to accelerate progress, particularly with the production of sustainable aviation fuel and the potential for carbon removals,” Walsh said.
“We’ll also take stock of our progress on safety, financial sustainability, and other key industry topics. It’s important that we put these challenges on the table so that all stakeholders, including governments, have a clear understanding of what airlines need to connect people and economies safely, efficiently, and evermore sustainably,” he added.
The popular CEO Insights panel moderated by CNN’s Richard Quest will feature Vanessa Hudson, Group CEO and MD of Qantas; Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline; Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines; and Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic Airways.
Key topics at the summit will focus on the overall view of challenges facing the airline industry in light of changing energy markets, the increasingly complex global geopolitical situation, and shifting supply chains and trade patterns. The potential for artificial intelligence in aviation, carbon emission reduction and the prospects for air cargo and tourism are also high on the agenda. The benefits of global connectivity is a topic that will underpin the entire programme.
Globally, aviation directly employs three million people and is a key motivating factor in the travel and tourism value chain, which supports some 320 million jobs and accounts for about 10% of all economic activity. Air cargo delivers $8.3 trillion in trade annually, accounting for some 35% of total global trade.
