About International Air Transport Association (IATA):
- It is the global trade association of airlines (for both freight and passenger carriers) that regulates the aviation industry by developing standards, procedures, and practices.
- It was founded in Havana, Cuba, on 19 April 1945.
- It is the successor to the International Air Traffic Association, founded in the Hague in 1919.
- It was created with the goal of promoting cooperation among airlines, as well as facilitating the development of regulations and procedures that ensure the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of air transport.
- Although the formal regulation of international civil aviation is the responsibility of bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), IATA acts primarily as an industry association that develops operational standards and best practices widely adopted by airlines and logistics operators.
- In practice, its activity focuses on three main areas:
- Standardization of processes and documentation used in international air transport.
- Development of technical regulations for the transport of goods, especially in sensitive areas such as dangerous goods or perishable products.
- Financial cooperation and settlement systems that enable airlines to operate global transportation networks.
- Members:
- At its founding, IATA had 57 members from 31 nations, mostly in Europe and North America.
- Presently, it has airline members in 126 countries and territories, comprising around 82 percent of total air traffic.
- Head Office: Montreal, Canada.
