IATA director general Willie Walsh will step down at the end of July to become the CEO Indian airline IndiGo.
Willie Walsh
The outspoken Walsh has led IATA since 2021. Before that, Walsh was head of British Airways and its parent company, International Airlines Group.
IATA said its board "has been preparing for a leadership transition, and the search for Mr. Walsh's successor is well advanced."
Discount carrier IndiGo dominates the Indian domestic market, serving 96 destinations in India and 45 international destinations with a fleet of more than 400 aircraft. It's the seventh-largest airline in the world by scheduled seats flown, according to an analysis of Cirum data by industry blogger Sam Chui.
Walsh will begin his tenure at IndiGo no later than Aug. 3, the airline said.
IndiGo chairman Vikram Singh Mehta said Walsh's "experience in managing large-scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics make him ideally suited to strengthen and lead IndiGo."
The hiring of Walsh follows the sudden resignation on March 10 of former IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers. He resigned after a 10-day operational meltdown in December, during which IndiGo canceled more than 4,000 flights because the airline failed to properly adjust its schedule to new crew rest requirements imposed by the Indian government.
IndiGo is currently being run on an interim basis by its managing director, Rahul Bhatia, who co-founded the 20-year-old airline.
Walsh praised IndiGo as a carrier with a compelling vision and strong reputation.
"I look forward to partnering with colleagues across the organization to build a culture of excellence, innovation, collaboration and sustainable value for all stakeholders," he said.