The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is IATA's pre-eminent event. In addition to the statutory obligations, the formalising of industry positions and the evidencing of airline unity, the AGM provides a focus for emerging industry issues and a forum for Members to meet and network. Over 600 representatives from IATA's Member Airlines, Industry Associate partners, international and regional associations, leading manufacturers and industry suppliers attend this meeting annually, accompanied by a large media contingent.

History of AGM & World Air Transport Summit

The organizational meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) was held in Havana, Cuba in April of 1945 and IATA formally came into being on the 19th of that month. Later that year, in October, the First Annual General Meeting of IATA was held in Montreal. At that time, there were 57 Members from 31 countries; today, IATA represents some 230 Members from all over the world.

The 55th Annual General Meeting, in Rio de Janeiro in 1999, marked the first formal use of World Air Transport Summit, in recognition of the status of the IATA AGM as the premier, industry-wide platform for the debate of critical issues at the highest level.
More on the history of IATA.