The 81st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Montreal (Canada) based International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Air Transport Summit (WATS) were held from June 1 to 3, 2025, hosted by Gurugram (Haryana) based IndiGo, India’s largest airline, at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.
- The event was inaugurated by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi and chaired by Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo and Chair of the IATA Board of Governors.
- The summit and dialogue provide a platform for the aviation industry to promote global cooperation, strengthen climate commitments, and support equitable growth.
Note:Â India hosted the AGM meeting for the third time in 2025, with previous meetings held in 1958 and 1983.
Highlights of the meeting:
PM Narendra Modi Addressed the IATA AGM and Plenary Session of WATS:
i.On June 2, 2025, PM Narendra Modi addressed the 81st AGM of IATA and the plenary session of WATS. He highlighted, India’s role in the global aviation ecosystem, in terms of market, policy leadership, innovation and inclusive development.
ii.He outlined three foundational pillars, which drive the aviation sector in India, such as vast market, strong demographic and talent pool, and an open and supportive policy ecosystem.
iii.He highlighted the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme, under which over 15 million passengers have benefited from affordable air travel.
- India’s aviation industry witnesses a double-digit growth, with 240 million passengers flying annually.
v.PM Modi also highlighted that 3.5 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of cargo are transported by air annually in India.
- He cited the doubled number of airports from 74 in 2014 to 162Â in 2025.
vi.He highlighted about India’s investments in greenfield airports, modern air traffic control systems and airport modernization.
- He also highlighted India’s commitment to use Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), investments in green technologies and efforts to reduce carbon footprint.
PM Narendra Modi Unveils India’s Aviation Vision 2047:
i.During the event, PM Modi unveiled a bold vision, ‘Aviation Vision 2047’, for India’s aviation sector. India aims to add 50 airports by 2030, aiming to scale up to 350 airports by 2047 as part of the Viksit Bharat Vision
ii.India aims to scale up among the top three global aviation markets and develop India as a major hub for international passenger and cargo traffic.
iii.PM Modi pointed to the emergence of the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services worth USD 4 billion by 2030, highlighting India’s efforts to become a global hub for aircraft maintenance, making India an integral part of global aviation supply chain.
Airlines Projected to report USD 36 billion profit in 2025:
The IATA released updated 2025 Airline Industry Financial Outlook (AIFO), showing improved profitability over 2024.
i.The Net profits for the aviation industry are projected to reach USD 36 billion in 2025, up from USD 32.4 billion in 2024, though slightly below the earlier forecast of USD 36.6 billion made in December 2024.
ii.The Net profit margin is at 3.7%, improved from the 3.4% earned in 2024.
iii.The Total Traveler numbers reaching a record high of 4.99 billion, an increase of 4% from 2024.
iv.The Total air cargo volumes reaching 69 million tonnes(Mt), an increase of 0.6% from 2024.
IATA Names New Chair and Host:
i.The IATA has announced Luis Gallego, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of International Airlines Group (IAG) as the New Chair of the IATA board.
- He is the 83rd Chair of the IATA Board on which he has served since 2018. He succeeds IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, who will continue to serve on the Board.
ii.Prof. Ahmed Bolat, Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee, Turkish Airlines has been reelected to the Board of Directors of the IATA for a second term during the event.
iii.The 82nd IATA AGM is scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2026, hosted by Las Condes (Chile) based LATAM Airlines Group S.A.
2025 IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards Revealed
i.Claudia Zapata-Cardone, President of Latin Professionals in Aerospace (LPA), was honoured as the Inspirational Role Model.
ii.Katherine Moloney, Founder of Elevate Aviation, received the High Flyer award.
iii.Air Canada was recognised in the Diversity & Inclusion Team category.
Others:
i.Gurugram (Haryana) based IndiGo (formerly known as InterGlobe Aviation Limited) has placed an order for an additional 30 wide-body A350 aircraft with Airbus, bringing the total A350 fleet commitment to 60 aircraft.
ii.Willie Walsh, Director-General (DG), IATA shared a forecast for global airline profits. He highlighted,Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production output is expected to double to 2 million tonnes(Mt) in 2025.
- He highlighted, the Indian Taxation system is complex and needs a greater certainty.
iii.As of the end of April 2025, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports that USD 1.3 billion in airline funds remain blocked from repatriation by various governments.
iv.The IATA 81st AGM concluded with strong calls to advance growth, ensure safety, and accelerate sustainability in the global aviation sector, reinforcing a collective commitment to a resilient and future-ready industry.
About International Air Transport Association (IATA):
Director-General(DG) – Willie Walsh
Headquarters – Montreal, Canada
Established  – 1945
