Dubai’s Emirates to host 80th IATA AGM

Dubai’s Emirates will host the 80^th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Dubai from June 2 to 4, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Monday.

Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general said Dubai is a dynamic city and a major aviation hub connecting the world and holding the AGM in the city will be a showcase of what can be achieved by aviation with supportive government policies.

“The UAE’s positive approach to aviation has built a strong airline with a strong hub airport. Together, these make an enormously powerful and positive contribution to the society and economy of the UAE,” he said.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that @Emirates will host the 80th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in #Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 2-4 June 2024. @IATA https://t.co/fxCBJ7un6Z pic.twitter.com/jU5KzioFjY

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 5, 2023

The 80^th IATA AGM will be the first time the UAE and Dubai will host the global gathering of aviation’s top leaders. The decision to host the AGM in Dubai was made by the 79^th AGM in Istanbul.

“Emirates is delighted to host the 80^th IATA AGM and World Air Transport Summit. We look forward to welcoming all our aviation industry colleagues to Dubai in 2024,” said Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline.

IATA forecasts $9.8bn in 2023 profit

IATA projected that the global aviation industry’s profit will reach $9.8bn in 2023, more than double the $4.7bn forecast in December, driven by pent-up demand for air travel as the industry recovers from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The airline trade body said the return to net profitability, even with a 1.2 per cent net profit margin, is a major achievement for the industry.

The airline trade body projected that the industry’s operating profits will reach $22.4bn this year, more than the December forecast of $3.2bn. The operating profit is also more than double the $10.1bn operating profit estimated for 2022.

IATA expects some 4.35 billion passengers to travel in 2023, around 96 per cent of 2019 levels.

The trade body represents some 300 airlines comprising 83 per cent of global air traffic.

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