Qatar Airways chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker has been voted onto the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Al Baker will occupy a newly-created position to increase representation for Middle East carriers on the revamped 10-member IATA board.
Speaking at the IATA general meeting last week, Al Baker said: “I have been lobbying IATA to be more transparent and have a structure where it speaks on behalf of all airline members and not just for a few,” he said. “The old guard at IATA has gone and I am delighted to have been voted onto the Board of Governors and assure IATA members, both in my region and around the world that I will do my utmost to serve in the interests of the airline industry as a whole.”
Al Baker added: “I am delighted that IATA, now under a new leadership, has understood my concerns and acted accordingly to reflect the demands for greater transparency and improved membership representation on the IATA board.”