IATA's Corporate Governance

Board of Directors

IATA is governed by an executive committee known as the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors provides strategic leadership and oversight for IATA. It acts collectively to define the Association’s strategic direction and objectives, oversee financial performance, budgeting, and risk management, and appoint the Director General and other senior officers. The Board also approves key operational policies and governance frameworks, oversees compliance with by-laws, member resolutions, and applicable laws, and exercises additional powers as delegated by the Members.

The Board’s procedural rules are set out in By-law No. 3 (pdf).

Board Committees

The Board operates through four standing committees, composed exclusively of Board members. Each committee has defined authority and clear escalation thresholds, enabling focused oversight while reserving key decisions for the full Board.

• The Governance & Performance Committee oversees IATA’s performance and effectiveness, including IATA’s strategic planning and annual targets, as well as executive performance and appointments.
• The Industry Strategy & Policy Committee ensures that IATA’s policies, advocacy, and industry initiatives reflect the Board’s strategic direction, while remaining responsive to political and regional developments.
• The Finance, Risk & Audit Committee is responsible financial oversight, risk management, and audit responsibilities.
• The Membership Committee manages Board nominations and sensitive membership matters such as suspensions or terminations.

The Committees’ procedural rules are set out in By-law No. 4 (pdf) and their responsibilities are defined in their terms of refence (pdf).

Membership of the Board of Directors

As of 2 June 2025, the Board is composed of 31 airline CEOs (pdf) and IATA's Director General.

Luis Gallego Martín, CEO of IAG, serves as Chair of the Board of Governors until the close of the 82nd IATA AGM. The CEO of LATAM, Roberto Alvo, will serve as Chair of the Board from June 2025, following Gallego's term. See press release.

Advisory Councils

Nine Advisory Councils have been established to advise the Board and work with IATA management on issues referred to them by the Director General. Each advisory council is composed of up to 20 experts from member airlines who act as representatives of the membership. The Advisory Councils meet at least twice a year and may establish working groups to provide technical advice on an on-going basis and task forces to address specific time-limited projects. Their activities are governed by the Rules and Regulations of the Advisory Councils (pdf), which include their individual mandate in Annex.

IATA’s nine Advisory Councils

Traffic Conferences

IATA’s Traffic Conferences develop and maintain standards for cargo industry procedures, cargo distribution services and passenger processes (such as distribution, airport and financial) together with more general standards such as coding and scheduling. The Traffic Conferences are also responsible for matters (excluding remuneration) relating to the relationship between airlines and IATA accredited passenger and cargo agents and other intermediaries. Resolutions adopted act as an agreement between all IATA member airlines and are binding on them.

The Traffic Conferences meet in general annually and are organized in committees or management groups. They may establish boards or panels to oversee provisions in specific domains. Each active IATA member airline with scheduled commercial international air services gets a vote. Their activities are governed by the Provisions for the Conduct of the IATA Traffic Conferences (pdf).

IATA’s Traffic Conferences

At the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM), the Members of IATA adopted new by-laws (pdf) designed to ensure the Association remains modern, effective, and member-driven.

Guided by internationally recognized governance principles—accountability, democratic governance, transparency, member representation, and independence—the review was structured in two phases. Phase 1 focused on the legal and institutional foundations of the Association, including the AGM and the Board, and was presented for approval at the 2025 AGM. Phase 2, which will address IATA’s advisory and standard-setting structures, will follow in 2026.

The new framework strengthens the role of the AGM as a transparent, inclusive, and efficient decision-making forum. It also introduces important changes to the Board, now called the Board of Directors, with clearer responsibilities, streamlined committees, and a stronger focus on oversight and performance.