International Airlines Group chief executive, Willie Walsh, is to become chairman of the Iata board of governors from June 2016.
The boss of the British Airways, Iberia and Vueling parent company will take over from Andres Conesa, chief executive of Aeromexico, who was confirmed in the role for a year at the airline trade body’s annual meeting in Miami yesterday.
Walsh will oversee Iata’s 2016 annual meeting which will be hosted by Aer Lingus in Dublin on June 1-3 next year. IAG is in the process of agreeing a takeover of the Irish airline.
Aer Lingus chief executive, Stephen Kavanagh, said: “We are pleased to be bringing aviation leaders from around the world to Dublin.
“Air transportation plays a vital role in Irish social and economic life and the Irish have a proud history of contribution to the development of our global industry.”