The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the 81st IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the 2025 World Air Transport Summit (WATS) will take place from June 1st to 3rd in New Delhi, India.

This event aims to gather global aviation leaders, with India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, likely to deliver a keynote address. The host airline for the AGM will be IndiGo, marking the first time India has held this event since 1983.

Approximately 1,700 participants including industry chiefs, government officials, and representatives from the press are expected.

IATA Director-General Willie Walsh has expressed excitement about returning to India for the AGM, acknowledging the country’s burgeoning role in aviation. “India’s involvement in the aviation sector has dramatically improved, especially over the last decade, with record aircraft orders and remarkable growth,” Walsh noted. He also highlighted that the AGM would showcase India’s rapid developments in its aviation infrastructure.

Currently, the Indian aviation industry supports 369,700 jobs and contributes $5.6 billion to the nation’s GDP. When factoring in indirect and induced effects, the numbers soar to 7.7 million jobs and a staggering $53.6 billion in GDP.

IndiGo’s CEO Pieter Elbers affirmed that this is India’s moment, underscoring how the aviation industry serves as a catalyst for socio-economic advancement. “Aviation is a vital force globally, particularly in India, where the market is flourishing,” he stated.

Immediately after the AGM, WATS will tackle significant topics, including the financial outlook for airlines, India’s strategic aviation initiatives, and sustainability in aviation, among others.

A main feature of WATS will be the 6th IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards, which honor efforts towards achieving gender balance in the industry as part of the 25by2025 initiative.