International Air Transport Association

In 1945, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) was formed in Havana, Cuba, as the trade association for the world’s airlines. At that time, IATA was comprised of 57 member airlines from 31 countries in North America and Europe, and was a successor to the International Air Traffic Association founded in The Hague in 1919. Today, IATA has over 250 members in 117 countries. These members include most international air carriers (passenger and freight), representing 84% of all air traffic, and carrying 2.1 billion passengers and 44 million tons of freight annually. IATA’s overarching goal is to facilitate the safe, smooth transport of passengers and cargo. Its head office is located in Montreal, Canada, and regional offices are located in Amman, Beijing, Madrid, Miami, and ...