• He will succeed Pieter Elbers, who resigned on 10 March 2026 following a major operational crisis that resulted in over 4,500 flight cancellations in late 2025.

About William Walsh:
Profile: He is a highly influential aviation leader with over 40 years of experience, having begun his career as a cadet pilot at Aer Lingus in 1979.
Leadership: He served as CEO at Aer Lingus (2000–2005), British Airways (2005–2011), International Airlines Group (IAG) (2011–2020).
IATA Role: He has been Director General (DG) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) since April 2021 until July 2026.
Expertise: His expertise includes large-scale airline operations, mergers and restructuring, crisis management, and global aviation leadership.
Recognition: In March 2014, he was named the 2014 Laureate for Commercial Aviation by ‘Aviation Week & Space Technology’.