India will host the world’s most premier aviation event, the annual general meeting (AGM) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), in 2025, after a gap of 42 years.
The chiefs and various other top executives of almost all global airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and other aviation sector stakeholders gather once a year at IATA’s AGM to discuss issues pertaining to the global aviation sector.
It is considered one of the most significant events in the aviation industry’s calendar.
IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share, will be the host airline of the AGM and the World Air Transport Summit that will take place in Delhi between June 8-10, 2025, IATA announced on Monday.
About 330 airlines, comprising more than 80 per cent of global air traffic, are members of IATA.
“We look forward to gathering the aviation industry in Delhi, India’s gateway city, for the 81st IATAAGM in 2025. It’s been over four decades since the industry came together for an IATAAGM in Delhi.
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 IATAAGM to return to India and witness these exciting developments first hand,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said that the airline is proud to be the host airline for the 81st IATAAGM and is looking forward to welcoming the global aviation community to Delhi in 2025.
“India, becoming the third largest economy within the next few years and leading the fourth industrial revolution with the use of AI (artificial intelligence), is a nation on the move. India’s rise in the global aviation landscape over the last years has been nothing short of remarkable,” he noted.
The decision to host the 81st IATAAGM in India was made at the 80th IATAAGM, which is currently going on in Dubai. This will be the third time the IATA AGM has convened in Delhi, having previously visited India in 1958 and 1983.
Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that it is a proud moment for Indian aviation as it marches ahead to host the 81st AGM.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the sector has grown tremendously with a record passenger count, development of world-class infrastructure, enhanced regional connectivity and historic aircraft orders, he mentioned.
“Certain that this will provide national and international stakeholders a platform to further explore the Indian aviation market and open new avenues for collaboration and sustainability,” the minister added.
To meet the growing demand in the country’s air travel market, Indian carriers have made four huge aircraft orders since last year. In February 2023, the Tata-run Air India Group placed an order for 470 planes: 250 with Airbus and 220 with American planemaker Boeing. In June 2023, IndiGo made the world’s largest aircraft order by signing a deal for 500 A320neo family planes from Airbus.
In January 2024, the new airline Akasa Air placed an order for 150 B737 Max aircraft with Boeing. IndiGo had last month placed an order with European planemaker Airbus for 30 A350-900 widebody aircraft at a deal size estimated to be between USD 4-5 billion. IndiGo is reportedly also in discussions with ATR to place an order for 100 turboprop aircraft.
India is expected to become the centre of world aviation in the next 15 years as the demand, the capacity and professionally-run airlines are present in the country’s aviation market, Edward Delahaye, Head of Customer Accounts for India and South Asia at Airbus, had said in February.
