The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Saadia Zahidi has been appointed as the organization’s director general , making her the first woman to hold this position, which she will assume on November 1, 2026.
Saadia Zahidi joins IATA from the World Economic Forum (WEF) , where she served as CEO and Board Member .
“Saadia’s long and distinguished experience at the World Economic Forum will strengthen IATA as the voice of the world’s airlines. Global air transport is a trillion-dollar industry that has changed and continues to change the world for the better. This appointment comes at a time of significant change in the international environment. Technology and geopolitics, among other things, will transform 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. He will bring a fresh perspective that will enhance his support for the airline industry, building on his well-established technical, financial, and data capabilities,” said Roberto Alvo, Chairman of the IATA Board of Trustees and CEO of LATAM Airlines Group .
Willie Walsh, former Director General of IATA, completed his duties on July 31, 2026. The IATA Board of Trustees has appointed Sandrine Le Borgne, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Corporate Services, as interim Director General for the interim period.
“I thank Willie for his exceptional leadership, which helped IATA emerge from the COVID-19 years stronger and with a more representative membership than ever before. We now look forward to Saadia taking IATA’s work to even greater heights,” Alvo said.
Zahidi spent more than two decades at the World Economic Forum , where she was a managing director and a member of the Board of Trustees. She founded and currently directs the Center for the New Economy and Society.
She previously led the WEF’s Global Communications Group, the Global Programming Group, and the WEF’s collaboration with academia, civil society, and international organizations. She also founded and co-authored the WEF’s Future of Jobs Reports, Future of Growth Reports, Global Gender Gap Reports, and Lead Economists’ Outlook. She has served on the UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment and the European Space Agency’s High-Level Advisory Group. She is the author of “Fifty Million Rising,” which chronicles the rise of working women in the Muslim world.
In addition, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Smith College, an MPhil in International Economics from The Graduate Institute, and an MPA from Harvard University. She holds both Swiss and Pakistani citizenship.
“It is an honor for me to help advance IATA’s mission to represent, lead, and serve the airline industry at this crucial time. Aviation is a critical infrastructure for economic growth, trade, tourism, jobs, investment, and opportunity. In a rapidly changing world, IATA’s role in uniting the industry 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 partner ecosystem to build on IATA’s remarkable foundation, ensuring that aviation continues to connect the world while embracing innovation, strengthening resilience, and advancing sustainable growth. Together, we can extend the benefits of connectivity to more people and economies around the globe. My top priority will be working with the IATA team and the industry to build the future of aviation together,” Zahidi emphasized.
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