Akbar al-Baker re-elected to IATA Board of Governors

Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker has been re-elected into the Board of Governors of International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global aviation industry body.The prestigious appointment, for a term of three more years until the conclusion of IATA’s 74th AGM in 2018, took place at this month’s 71st IATA AGM in Miami, with al-Baker also re-appointed by his fellow airline executives to serve another one-year term on the Chair Committee of IATA.The recent IATA AGM in Miami followed on from the 70th AGM in 2014, which was hosted by Qatar Airways and took place in Doha. More than 1,000 guests and dignitaries were hosted by the airline then, under the patronage of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.Al-Baker, said: “I am delighted to have been re-appointed to these prestigious roles, both as a governor and as a member of IATA’s Chair Committee, which will allow me the opportunity to represent and to continue serving the interests of the airline industry as a whole, as well as ensuring fair and equal representation of airlines from the Middle East.”IATA’s Board of Governors acts on behalf of and in the interests of IATA, making decisions in the best interest of the entire IATA membership. The Board additionally provides policy directives and guidance to IATA Industry Committees and subsidiary bodies.The IATA Chair Committee is accountable to the Board of Governors with respect to the duties and authority delegated to it by the Board. It is responsible for overseeing financial performance and governance of the association.IATA is the global body that represents some 240 airline members, comprising 84% of scheduled international air traffic.