Iata, the first woman to head the association

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has appointed Saadia Zahidi, Director-General of the World Economic Forum, as its new Director-General following the departure of the current head, Willie Walsh, who has joined the Indian airline IndiGo.

Zahidi, the first woman to take up the post of Director General of IATA, will take up her post on 1 November, the association said in a press release.

The group is relying on the Pakistani-born economist, who comes from an organisation outside the aviation sector, at a time when airlines are facing adverse geopolitical and economic headwinds, with oil prices exceeding $100 a barrel due to conflicts in the Middle East.