The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is holding its two-day annual general meeting in Doha, Qatar, on Monday and Tuesday. The in-person event attracts the movers and shakers of the airline world who'll have plenty to talk about in the wake of COVID-19. IATA's Director General Willie Walsh is hosting the event, and other prominent faces will include the boss of the hometown airline, Akbar Al Baker.

What makes IATA 2022 any different from the others?

So what's on the agenda? IATA's own website gives an indication. They say the aviation industry faces complex and dynamic operational, business, and geopolitical environments. That's not necessarily a uniquely 2022 phenomenon. What makes this year interesting is the lingering after-effects of COVID-19, the ongoing fallout of the Ukraine-Russia war, rising fuel prices, and an increasingly assertive sustainability agenda.

This year's meeting was due to be held in Shanghai. But the COVID-19 situation there and the Chinese Government imposed movement controls and travel restrictions saw that plan dropped in March. Qatar was quick to step into the breach. However, the venue switch provides one example of the ongoing and often last-minute disruptions caused by the pandemic. The traveling roadshow bound for Shanghai switched course to Doha, along with all the logistical and financial costs that decision caused.

IATA Director General Willie Walsh
The IATA boss did not hold back in his scathing criticism of Heathrow management. Photo: IATA

Airline CEO's flying in

So who's heading to Doha? IATA's Board of Governors gives you an indication of the caliber of attendees. Most, if not all, of the Governors will fly in. Top of the list is JetBlue's President and CEO, Robyn Hayes, is who Chair of the Board and scheduled to give two press briefings. On the board with Mr Hayes are over two dozen airline CEOs, including Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau, American Airlines Chairman Doug Parker, Cathay Pacific CEO Tang Kin Wing Augustus, Lufthansa's Carsten Spohr, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong, and United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby.

The CEOs and senior executives of other airlines whose CEOs are on the IATA Board of Governors will also swing into town for the event, given that IATA represents around 290 airlines comprising 83% of global air traffic.

"Airlines are simultaneously recovering from the COVID-19 crisis, setting the path to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, working to improve gender diversity, and adapting to a geopolitical environment that is undergoing its greatest shock in over three decades,” said IATA Director General Willie Walsh.

IATA Briefing AGM 2022
IATA executives on Sunday in Doha. Photo: Andrew Curran/Simple Flying

Keeping tabs on events

On Sunday afternoon (local time), IATA will provide a series of briefings detailing the state of aviation play in the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific. The CEOs will get down the business on Monday morning, holding the two-hour annual general meeting. Also on the agenda are a series of briefings concerning the state of the aviation economy, the ongoing implication of the Ukrainian War and the pandemic.

"Coming together face-to-face provides us with the opportunity to discuss lessons learnt from our recent years during the pandemic, global issues affecting us all in the here and now, and to plan the best way forward for the industry," says Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways.