IATA is to hold its next annual general meeting, the 81st edition of the event, in Delhi in 2025.
The airline association announced at its 80th AGM in Dubai that low-cost operator IndiGo to be the host airline for the 2025 edition, which will run from 8-10 June.
Speaking at the AGM, IndiGo chief Pieter Elbers – who will serve as IATA’s chair over the next year once this year’s AGM is complete – notes that India last hosted the IATA AGM in 1983.
“Coming back after an absence of 42 years— think about that; the world’s largest population, soon to be the third largest economy in the world and then its 42 years since its was last hosted in India,” he says. “It is an appropriate time [now] and an incredibly proud moment for IndiGo and India.”
IATA director general Willie Walsh adds: ”With record aircraft orders, impressive growth, and world-class infrastructure developments, India is firmly on the trajectory to become the world’s third largest aviation market within this decade. With such bright prospects, it’s the perfect time for the IATA AGM to return to India and witness these exciting developments first hand.”
The return of the IATA AGM to India follows a series of record orders from Indian carriers over the past two years, including from IndiGo, which in June 2023 ordered 500 Airbus narrowbody aircraft. In April this year, it announced firm orders for 30 A350-900s, marking its foray into widebody operations.
Compatriot Air India, meanwhile, has over 400 aircraft on order from Airbus and Boeing.
