Hosted by Emirates, the 80th IATA AGM and World Air Transport Summit welcomed around 1,500 participants from the world’s airlines, strategic partners, associations and manufacturers at the JW Marriott Dubai from 2-4 June.

Here’s what you might have missed.

Profitability: Thankfully, the outlook for airline profitability in 2024 is looking good with improved financial performance expected due to increased passenger demand and operational efficiencies. IATA forecasts that 2024 global airline net profits will reach $30.5 billion, a healthy increase on 2023’s $25.7 billion, driven by robust revenue growth and cost management strategies. Predicted total revenues ($996 billion), total expenses ($936 billion), and total travellers (4.96 billion) are also expected to reach a record high in 2024.  

Delhi 2025: After more than 40 years, the IATA AGM will return to Delhi next year with IndiGo hosting the 81st edition from 8 – 10 June 2025. This decision highlights India’s growing developments in the global aviation industry and IndiGo’s prominence in the market. Meanwhile, Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, has assumed his duties as Chair of the IATA Board of Governors (BoG) from 3 June.

Safety commitment: There’s always room for improvement when it comes to safety, and 73 airline CEOs have now committed to the IATA Safety Leadership Charter, aiming to enhance global aviation safety standards. This initiative focuses on proactive safety management, the sharing of best practices, and fostering a safety culture across the industry. The commitment emphasises the industry’s dedication to passenger and crew safety, resulting in 0 fatalities for IATA member airlines.

Faster check-in and boarding: Boring queues may soon be a thing of the past for Star Alliance passengers. With IATA’s Timatic AutoCheck to streamline document verification processes, checking-in and boarding will be a breeze with reduced wait times. The system supports contactless travel across all 26 IATA airline members. 

Sharing is caring: The IATA Schedule Data Exchange Program is expanding to enhance flight schedule information sharing accuracy and efficiency. 40 airlines have signed the formal agreement to contribute, with another 40 preparing to join. With better coordination among airlines, airports and other stakeholders, operational performance and customer satisfaction will no doubt be enhanced.

Fuel efficiency: The Fuel Efficiency Analytics Solution (FUEIIS), an advanced tool designed to optimise fuel use and reduce emissions has been announced by the IATA. Fuel represents nearly a third of an airline’s operational expenses. This solution leverages data analytics to provide airlines with actionable insights, promoting sustainability and operational efficiency in the face of environmental challenges. 

Winners are grinners: As more companies embrace and promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace, here are some notable individuals and organisations leading the way and setting a benchmark in the aviation industry, as recognised in the IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards for 2024:

• Diversity & Inclusion Team: British Airways
• Inspirational Role Model: Kendra Kincade, CEO and Founder, Elevate Foundation
• High Flyer: Mafunase Ngosa Malenga, Founder and Managing Director, Southern Africa Institute of Aviation Science and Technology