The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged African governments to prioritise aviation as a driver of economic and social development. Focusing on safety, competitiveness, sustainability, and ease of business can boost jobs, trade, tourism, regional integration, and long-term prosperity.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged Ethiopia to prioritise aviation to meet rising air travel demand. With passenger numbers expected to triple in 20 years, sustained investment in infrastructure, workforce, and sustainability is vital for long-term economic growth.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that it is establishing a permanent presence in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, opening a new office and preparing for the launch of a Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) in the country before the end of the year.
IATA highlighted aviation’s importance to Kazakhstan, noting its focus on the sector has boosted jobs and economic activity. Aviation supports 44,700 jobs and generates $2.1 billion in output, contributing 0.8% of the country’s GDP.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that global passenger demand in February 2026, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), increased by 6.1% compared to February 2025.
Middle Eastern airlines led global air cargo growth in January, helping lift worldwide demand 5.6% year-on-year, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in its report, as the sector opened 2026 on a firm footing despite geopolitical and trade headwinds.
International Air Transport Association (IATA) projects global air passenger demand will more than double by 2050, reaching about 20.8 trillion RPKs under a mid-range 3.1% CAGR, with scenarios ranging from 19.5 to 21.9 trillion RPKs depending on growth rates.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is advancing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in air cargo with three initiatives to improve operational efficiency, strengthen safety and compliance, and accelerate innovation across the global air cargo value chain.
The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 2025 Safety Report showed solid aviation safety performance, with the all-accident rate improving to 1.32 per million flights from 1.42 in 2024, slightly above the 2021–2025 average of 1.27.
Air cargo played a key role in supporting global trade and economic growth in 2025 as companies navigated heightened trade policy uncertainty, according to IATA. It enabled the front-loading of $157 billion US imports and carried two-thirds of global AI-related goods by value in Q1.
