The 83rd International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS) will be held in Xiamen, China, from 30 May to 1 June 2027.
The decision to host the 83rd IATA AGM in China was made at the 82nd IATA AGM in Rio de Janeiro. This is the third time China will host the global gathering of aviation’s top leaders, and the first time it will be held in Xiamen. The AGM was previously held in Shanghai (2002) and Beijing (2012), IATA said in its press release.
“Xiamen Airlines is proud to host the IATA AGM and to welcome our industry colleagues to our home base of Xiamen. China is a vast and culturally diverse country, with many dynamic cities and regions beyond its best-known gateways. Located on China’s southeast coast, Xiamen is an historical port and interface for commerce between China and the rest of the world,” said Zhao Dong, Chairman of Xiamen Airlines.
“We are excited to bring the 83rd IATA AGM to China, hosted by Xiamen Airlines. China is a major player in the aviation industry. China’s airlines are among the top airlines by passenger traffic in the world. And the country is at the forefront of how technology and digitalization can be deployed to improve efficiency. Hosting the AGM in China will allow the leaders of the global aviation industry to witness first-hand the impressive development of the China market,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
“The opening of Xiang’an International Airport later this year demonstrates how Xiamen is growing its importance as a transportation and business hub. AGM guests can look forward to discovering the rich culture, warm hospitality, coastal beauty, and a relaxed lifestyle that create the distinctive spirit and vitality of Xiamen,” said Xie Bing, CEO & President of Xiamen Airlines.
Meanwhile, Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group, has taken up duties as Chair of the IATA Board of Directors of the IATA. His one-year term began at the conclusion of the 82nd IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 8 June2026, IATA added.
Alvo is the 84th Chair of the IATA Board of Directors on which he has served since2020. Alvo succeeds Luis Gallego, CEO of International Airlines Group (IAG).
Gallego will continue to serve on the Board, it said.
Alvo has over 25 years of experience in the aviation industry. He joined LAN Airlines (now LATAM Airlines Group) in 2001 and held several leadership positions across finance, commercial, and strategic functions before being appointed CEO in 2020.
Shortly after becoming CEO, Alvo led LATAM through its Chapter 11 restructuring process and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, overseeing the group’s successful transformation and emergence in 2022.
Under Alvo’s leadership, LATAM has strengthened its position as the leading airline group in Latin America, expanding connectivity across the region and to international markets, advancing its sustainability agenda, and delivering strong operational and financial performance.
Today, LATAM serves more than 161destinations in 27 countries and plays a key role in connecting South America within the region and with the world.
Likewise, during the meeting in Brazil, IATA has presented the Inspirational Role Model prize to Rania Alturki, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Saudia Group, High Flyer prize to Fiona Omondi, Chief Strategy Officer, Tradewinds Aviation Services and Co-Founder, Women in Aviation International, Kenya. Diversity & Inclusion Team prize was presented to LATAM Airlines Group, IATA informed.
Each winner receives a prize of US $25,000, payable either to themselves or their nominated charities generously sponsored by Qatar Airways.
IATA highlighted Brazil’s opportunity to become a SAF powerhouse as its 82nd Annual General Meeting gathered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This would make Brazil a key player in air transport’s decarbonization, strengthen energy security, and grow Brazil’s economy.
IATA also announced the launch of “Save a Life, Not a Bag”, a passenger safety campaign urging travelers not to take cabin baggage during an aircraft evacuation.
Supported by aviation safety regulators including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the campaign reinforces what passengers must do when instructed to evacuate for their safety and the safety of all on board: follow crew instructions, leave all baggage behind, and move quickly to the nearest usable exit, said IATA.
The campaign responds to the growing number of cases where travelers have stopped to collect their baggage or take photos during aircraft evacuations. Evidence of this is seen in many videos posted online.
Valuable seconds can be lost when retrieving baggage from overhead bins. Carrying bags can cause people to fall or damage the slides that all passengers need to use.
Most concerningly, some passengers have been seen attempting to evacuate while carrying both infants and bags or other personal items, compromising safety at a critical moment, IATA added.
