International Air Transport Association (IATA) Explained

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the global trade association for the world’s airlines.

Its mission is to lead and serve its members, as well as to represent their interests in a way that boosts the airport transport industry.

Key facts about IATA:

It represents around 260 airlines or 83% of total air traffic.
It has global reach.
Flights by IATA members represent 83% of total traffic.
It was founded in Havana, Cuba, in April 1945.
It had 57 members from 31 nations, mostly in Europe and North America when it was first established in 1945. Today it has some 260 members from 117 nations in every part of the globe.
It’s priorities include safety, security, environment, services, simplifying the business and helping to build relationships within the industry.
IATA’s Billing and Settlement Plan serves as the financial backbone of the industry by managing the flow of the over $270 billion generated annually by travel agent ticket sales to airlines.

International Air Transport Association profile:

IATA is a globally recognised trade association for airlines and has been operating for more than 50 years. Its members include both freight and passenger carriers and it has offices in 53 countries around the world.

It has grown alongside the air travel industry, working in conjunction with the sector to help develop standards, practices and procedures to regulate it and ensure consistent levels of service for customers. The IATA is a truly global organisation and its 260 members come from more than 117 nations.

As well as consumer protection, the IATA has been involved in helping the airline industry become more sustainable. The organisation offers information on airlines, a range of publications and training programs and accreditation for those working in the travel industry.

In addition, it supplies a range of financial services, such as a debt collection service for airlines.

Criteria for membership

IATA Membership with full rights and privileges may only be obtained after: IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registration, An administrative review by the Membership Department, Payment of all application fees and membership dues.

Successful completion of an IOSA will result in addition to the IOSA registry. An airline must be on the IOSA registry before IATA Membership can be approved.

After this, an application form is submitted with the following supporting documents:

A certified copy of the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC), valid for a minimum of six months, with ORIGINAL Stamp, date and signature from the issuing Authority (not a notary), together with the Operational Specifications issued by the State of Registry, if applicable.
A certified copy of the Certificate of Registration with appropriate authority e.g. Chamber of Commerce or equivalent. Certification by a notary is acceptable.
Audited Financial Statements for the applicant airline, and if majority owned by another company (including state ownership), the financial statements of the owner company. These must be certified by a chartered or public accountant. For new airlines, a business plan prepared by a chartered or public account is acceptable.
The Annual Report of the applicant airline, or company by-laws showing how it is constituted, or airline profile.
Valid insurance certificates with aircraft type, registration number for each aircraft and respective details of registering authority, valid for a minimum of six months.
Traffic statistics for the preceding two years. This requirement does not apply to new airlines.
Published timetable/schedule, if the airline has scheduled operations. For non-scheduled operations, a list of destinations is requested.

List of IATA Member Moving Companies

Opinions about the International Air Transport Association

IATA appears on most major airline websites (often via an identifying IATA code) and also has its own Wikipedia page.

Its importance as a trade association is obvious, as is the involvement it has had in developing certain industry standards for the airlines sector. The fact that its members are responsible for upwards of 90% of the world’s scheduled airline traffic is a point that is made frequently.

Online articles about the airline industry often mention IATA and its involvement in deciding key issues and making important suggestions, such as regulating the size of luggage destined for overhead bins.

IATA is mentioned in numerous contexts, from project management partnership, to EU regulation. Given the frequency and breadth of news reports mentioning IATA it is clearly an active and prominent trade association.

Website: http://www.iata.org/Pages/default.aspx