IATA’s Alexandre de Juniac to Step Down

Alexandre de Juniac

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that Alexandre de Juniac will step down as Director General and CEO, effective March 31, 2021.

De Juniac made known his intention to step down from the association several months ago which enabled a search process to facilitate a smooth leadership transition.

“I did not come to this decision lightly. It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve the global air transport industry—what I call the business of freedom—as the head of IATA,” De Juniac said.

The IATA Board of Governors will recommend to the 76th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 24, the appointment of Willie Walsh, former CEO of International Airlines Group (IAG) to become IATA’s eighth Director General from 1 April 2021.

De Juniac joined IATA in September 2016 from Air France-KLM where he was Chairman and CEO.

Photo Source: IATA

“Alexandre has led our industry in extraordinary times. Under his leadership IATA has become a stronger and an even more relevant organization… I am also pleased that we are able to present a very capable candidate to the 76th IATA AGM to succeed Alexandre in this important role. I am convinced that Willie will be a great Director General for IATA,” said Carsten Spohr, Chair of the IATA Board of Governors and CEO of Lufthansa.

Referring to the current situation in aviation, de Juniac said that IATA has set the course to restore air connectivity amid the Covid-19 pandemic with systematic pre-departure testing.

“We are well into preparations to fulfil critical vaccine distribution needs… We have a motivated team that is determined to get the job done. The building blocks for an industry recovery are in place. And now is the right time to hand over IATA’s leadership for the long process of recovery,” he added.