The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has appointed Saadia Zahidi as its next Director General, making her the first woman to lead the global airline industry’s trade association in its 81-year history.
Zahidi, currently a Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board at the World Economic Forum (WEF), will officially assume office on 1 November 2026 as IATA’s ninth Director General, succeeding Willie Walsh, whose tenure ends on 31 July 2026.
To ensure a smooth leadership transition, IATA’s Board of Directors has appointed the association’s Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Corporate Services, Sandrine Le Borgne, as Interim Director General for the period between Walsh’s departure and Zahidi’s assumption of office.
Announcing the appointment, IATA Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LATAM Airlines Group, Roberto Alvo, described Zahidi as the right leader to guide the association through a rapidly evolving global aviation landscape shaped by technological innovation, geopolitical shifts and sustainability challenges.
According to Alvo, Zahidi’s extensive leadership experience at the World Economic Forum will strengthen IATA’s role as the voice of the world’s airlines while bringing a fresh perspective to the association’s advocacy, technical and data-driven capabilities.
He also paid tribute to outgoing Director General Willie Walsh for steering IATA through the COVID-19 recovery period and helping build a stronger, more representative organisation.
Expressing her appreciation for the appointment, Zahidi said she was honoured to lead IATA at a defining moment for global aviation, describing air transport as critical infrastructure that supports economic growth, international trade, tourism, employment, investment and global connectivity.
She pledged to work closely with member airlines, governments and industry stakeholders to build on IATA’s strong foundation while promoting collaboration, innovation, resilience and sustainable growth across the aviation sector.
Zahidi said her immediate priority would be working with the IATA team and the wider airline industry to help shape aviation’s future, ensuring the sector continues to connect people, businesses and economies while responding effectively to emerging global challenges.
Before joining IATA, Zahidi spent more than two decades at the World Economic Forum, where she held several senior leadership positions, including founding and leading the Centre for the New Economy and Society. She also previously headed the Forum’s Global Communications Group, Global Programming Group, and its engagement with academia, civil society and international organisations.
She is widely recognised for leading and co-authoring several influential global reports, including the Future of Jobs Report, Future of Growth Report, Global Gender Gap Report, and the Chief Economist Outlook. Zahidi has also served on the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment and the European Space Agency’s High-Level Advisory Group. She is the author of Fifty Million Rising, a book that explores the growing economic influence of working women in the Muslim world.
Zahidi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Smith College, a Master of Philosophy in International Economics from The Graduate Institute in Geneva, and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University. She is a dual national of Switzerland and Pakistan.
