Defining aviation's future at IATA AGM 2025

The 81st Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) will take place from June 1 to 3 in Delhi. Returning after over forty years, this event, hosted by IndiGo, will be the third occasion that the AGM is being held in Delhi, following previous meetings in 1958 and 1983.

- NIDHI SHARMA

The aviation world is turning its gaze toward New Delhi, where the 81st International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS) will unfold this summer. In a historic return after more than four decades, IATA is set to convene its AGM and WATS in the country’s capital from June 1 to 3, 2025. Hosted by IndiGo, this event marks the third time the AGM will be held in Delhi, following previous gatherings in 1958 and 1983.

The stakes have never been higher. Airlines are navigating a complex landscape of post-pandemic recovery, sustainability mandates, technological disruption, and geopolitical uncertainties. Against this backdrop, the 2025 AGM is expected to be a crucible for bold decisions that will define the trajectory of global aviation for years to come.

This is not just another corporate conference. It is where CEOs, regulators, and innovators will clash over policy, forge alliances, and set the course for an industry at a crossroads. What will be on the table? What battles will be fought behind closed doors? And most importantly, what will this mean for the future of flying?

India's selection as the host shows that the country is no longer just an emerging market—it is the market. With record-breaking aircraft orders and significant infrastructure developments, the country is on a trajectory to become the world's third-largest aviation market within this decade. Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General, highlighted India's impressive growth, noting that the nation's aviation sector has transformed dramatically over the past decade.