The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has appointed Saadia Zahidi as its next Director General, marking a historic milestone as the first woman to lead the global airline industry body. She will assume office on 1 November 2026 as IATA’s ninth Director General.
Zahidi joins IATA following more than two decades at the World Economic Forum, where she serves as Managing Director and a member of its Managing Board. She founded and leads the Forum’s Centre for the New Economy and Society and has been closely associated with influential research including the Future of Jobs and Global Gender Gap reports.
A Pakistani Swiss economist, Zahidi holds qualifications from Smith College, The Graduate Institute in Geneva and Harvard University. Her international experience also includes serving on the UN Secretary General’s panel for Women’s Economic Empowerment and the European Space Agency’s High Level Advisory Group.
Her appointment represents an important moment for both global aviation and women in leadership, bringing a new perspective to an organisation representing more than 370 airlines and around 85 per cent of global air traffic.
