The International Air Transport Association convened its 81st Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in New Delhi from June 1 to 3, marking the first time India hosted the event in 42 years (since 1983), with around 1.700 participants, including airline CEOs, government officials, and media. Hosted by IndiGo and held at Bharat Mandapam, the gathering brought together leaders from airlines, regulators, industry partners and governments to address the industry’s most pressing challenges and opportunities. Among those present were also the CEO of Air Serbia, Jiri Marek, and the CEO Croatia Airlines, Jasmin Bajic.
A highlight was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s keynote on June 2, where he emphasised India’s ambition to become a global aviation and innovation hub. He revealed an aim to double air travel from 240 million to nearly 500 million passengers annually by 2030, and flagged India’s emerging status as an MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) powerhouse.
IATA’s Director General Willie Walsh presented a cautiously optimistic financial outlook: global airline profits are projected at $36 billion for 2025, an improvement from $32.4 billion last year, even as airlines continue to grapple with tight profit margins around $7 per passenger and external pressures including fuel costs, taxes, and supply chain constraints
A strong focus was placed on safety, resilience and sustainability, as speakers underscored the need to prioritize accident prevention, green technologies, and operational efficiency. IATA released key initiatives including diversity and inclusion awards, updates on Sustainable Aviation Fuel, and commitments to CO₂ transparency, alongside new digital tools like IATA CO₂ Connect and FuelIS to drive fuel efficiency
Agendas also delved into geopolitics, post-pandemic recovery and India’s central role in shaping global air connectivity. The summit’s panels dealt with the effects of geopolitical instability on flight operations, and India was spotlighted as a rapidly growing aviation market with strong infrastructure investment - closing with a nod to the 82nd IATA AGM, set to be hosted by LATAM in Rio de Janeiro in June 2026.