India Hosts IATA’s 81st AGM And World Air Transport Summit After 42 Years; Here Are Some Key Highlights

From June 1st to June 3rd, 2025, New Delhi is taking centre stage as India proudly hosts the 81st Annual General Meeting and the World Air Transport Summit of the International Air Transportation Association (IATA). This event is being held in India for the first time since 1983. After over four decades, this brilliant step highlights India’s remarkable rise in the global aviation arena.

IndiGo, India’s Aviation Champion

We’re excited to announce the opening of the #IATAAGM in #Delhi 🇮🇳 and proud to be the host airline. #goIndiGo @IATA pic.twitter.com/ErJyxfKuOs

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) June 1, 2025

Organised in partnership with IndiGo Airlines, the IATA is hosting over 1,700 delegates from all around the world. These include top airline executives, government officials, aviation experts, and media representatives from around the world. This event is not just a conference about the aviation industry globally, but also a celebration of India’s glowing influence in this sector.

India’s aviation sector has grown phenomenally in the past decade. In just the last 10 years, the number of airports in the country has doubled. With around 3,70,000 people directly employed in the aviation sector, it contributes $5.6 billion to India’s GDP. When considering indirect and tourism-related impacts, aviation supports 7.7 million jobs and contributes a massive $53.6 billion, about 1.5% of the country’s GDP, Tour And Travel World reported.

No Indian aviation story is complete without mentioning IndiGo, the country’s largest airline and the official host airline of the AGM. Peter Elbers, CEO of Indigo Airlines, is chairing the IATA Board of Governors at the summit. Speaking about the country’s aviation market, he credited it with thriving rapidly and contributing significantly to the country’s socio-economic growth. According to the Tour and Travel World reports, IndiGo Airlines holds over 60% of the country’s domestic market. The airlines also made headlines recently by signing an MoU with Airbus to order 30 additional A350-900 wide-body aircraft.

Also Read: Over 1,500 Tourists Stranded In North Sikkim As Landslides And Heavy Rains Cut Off Key Roads

The World Air Transport Summit (WATS) And Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

After the IATA AGM, the World Air Transport Summit (WATS) will discuss global aviation’s future and the issues that play a role in it. The CEO panel is moderated by Richard Quest of CNN and includes major players from Indigo, JetBlue, FedEx, and Abra Group. The panel will cover a variety of topics like India’s strategic aviation expansion and infrastructure development, the global financial outlook for airlines in the face of economic uncertainty, and a lot more.

One of the summit’s most important sessions will focus on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This clean alternative can have a significant impact on aviation emissions. According to Tour And Travel World, by 2030, SAF production is expected to hit 17 billion litres globally. India will certainly play a crucial role thanks to its capacity to produce biofuels from agriculture and municipal waste.

This event also highlights the 6th edition of the IATA Diversity and Inclusion Awards, part of the 25×2025 initiative. It aims to boost female leadership in aviation to at least 25% by 2025. Currently, women make up only 5% of airline CEOs and 3% of pilots globally, Tour And Travel World reported. Clearly, this push for gender equality in the aviation sector is important.

As global aviation leaders come together in New Delhi, they share a common goal to innovate, collaborate, and push forward in this evolving industry. India’s hosting of the IATA AGM and WATS after 42 years is a bold statement about the country’s ambitions and growing influence.

Cover Image Courtesy: IATA/X