Saadia Zahidi appointed new IATA DG as Walsh exits

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Saadia Zahidi has been appointed by IATA’s Board of Directors to the position of Director General from 1 November 2026.

Zahidi will be IATA’s ninth Director General and the first woman appointed to hold the position. She joins IATA from the World Economic Forum (WEF) where she is a Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board.

Willie Walsh, IATA’s current Director General, will conclude his duties on 31 July 2026. The IATA Board of Directors has appointed Sandrine Le Borgne, IATA’s Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Corporate Services, as Interim Director General for the intervening period.

“The Board is very pleased to appoint Saadia Zahidi as Director General of IATA. Saadia’s long and outstanding experience at the World Economic Forum will enhance and strengthen IATA as the voice of the world’s airlines. Global air transport is a trillion-dollar industry that has and continues to change the world for the better. Saadia’s appointment comes at a moment of significant change in the international environment.

“Technology and geopolitics, among others, will reshape the industry in the future, and Saadia brings the right skills to effectively articulate what our industry needs to continue connecting people and economies safely, efficiently and sustainably. She’ll bring a fresh perspective to IATA that will grow its support for the airline industry on the foundations of IATA’s well-established technical, financial and data capabilities.

I thank Willie for his outstanding leadership that helped IATA emerge from the COVID years stronger and with a more representative membership than ever. We now look forward to Saadia taking IATA’s work to even greater heights,” said Roberto Alvo, Chair of the IATA Board of Directors and CEO of LATAM Airlines Group.

“I am honoured to help advance IATA’s mission to represent, lead and serve the airline industry at this pivotal moment. Aviation is critical infrastructure for economic growth, trade, tourism, jobs, investment and opportunity. In a rapidly changing world, IATA’s role in bringing the industry together to collaborate through trusted standards, essential services and advocacy has never been more important.

I look forward to working closely with our member airlines, governments and the ecosystem of partners to build on IATA’s remarkable foundation, ensuring aviation continues to connect the world while embracing innovation, strengthening resilience and advancing sustainable growth.

“Together, we can expand the benefits of connectivity to more people and economies around the world. My top priority will be working with the IATA team and with the industry to build aviation’s future together,” said Zahidi.

About Zahdi

Zahidi spent more than two decades at the World Economic Forum, where she served as Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board. She founded and currently heads its Centre for the New Economy and Society. Previously, she led the WEF’s Global Communications Group, Global Programming Group, and WEF’s engagement with academics, civil society and international organisations.

Zahidi founded and co-authors WEF’s Future of Jobs Reports, the Future of Growth Reports, the Global Gender Gap Reports, and Chief Economist Outlooks. She has served on the UN Secretary-General’s panel for Women’s Economic Empowerment and the European Space Agency’s High-Level Advisory Group. She is also the author of Fifty Million Rising, tracking the rise of working women in the Muslim world.

Zahidi holds a BA in Economics from Smith College, an MPhil in International Economics from The Graduate Institute and an MPA from Harvard University. She holds Swiss and Pakistani nationalities.

Wole Shadare