IATA names Saadia Zahidi as next director general as Willie Walsh prepares to exit
Saadia Zahidi will become IATA’s first woman director general on November 1, 2026. Willie Walsh is due to leave the airline body on July 31, ahead of his reported move as CEO-designate of IndiGo.
IATA appointed Saadia Zahidi as its next Director General from November 2026. Current chief Willie Walsh will exit IATA in July 2026 and is CEO-designate of IndiGo, India’s largest private airline by market share.
Why this matters
The leadership transition follows IndiGo's recent warnings that airport-airline cross-ownership could distort competition and create conflicts when airport operators pursue airline stakes.
Leadership is steady at 849 signals in 90 days; no QoQ percentage was provided.