IATA 2021: Walsh and Boston

Next year will see a new leader at IATA, and a new host city/airline.

Willie Walsh, known for his abrasive manner when dealing with government, will replace the diplomatic Alexandre De Juniac as Chairman and Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on 1 April 2021. 

In his acceptance speech at the Annual General Meeting of the airline trade body Mr Walsh made great play of the difference between himself and the man he succeeds regarding their pedigrees, Irish and French.  M Juniac’s predecessor, the urbane Tony Tyler, also gained an honourable mention.  

It was announced that Boston will accommodate IATA 2021 June 27–29 with jetBlue and Robin Hayes acting as host.  

The choice of USA’s most eastern major gateway confirms jetBlue’s seriousness in introducing Airbus A321 services from Europe, and London in particular, next summer.  

Just two weeks back BTN featured Mr Hayes with a John Strickland interview.  (see BTN 16 November)

www.iata.org

www.jetblue.com

Index/Home page
 

OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum

Antony Tyler,

IATA and its members are lucky that WW is available and willing. He was a very effective Board member of IATA when I was there, and Chair of its Strategy & Policy Committee. He always took an industry perspective, not a BA or IAG viewpoint, which wasn't always the case with all Board members. He's an airline man to his fingertips. Yes, he speaks his mind, very directly, but in a crisis there's nothing wrong with that.

Duncan Kane, Cambridge

Can I suggest if JetBlue has two pairs of slots at Stansted they should make one Boston and the other Kennedy.

Fred O\'Shea, Chicago

Maybe IATA does need a shakeup? But is this the right time.

Jeff Jones, Harrow

We will have to wait for Willie Walsh. But worth waiting for!

Gilly Spence, Uxbridge

Who is going to replace Walsh in five years’ time assuming he lasts. O’Leary?. He is not even a member.

James Taylor, London

Walsh does seem an odd choice as his apparent lack of connectivity with the British Government when in charge of BA & IAG was obvious. IATA is a trade association and not a business with a bottom line.