Aviation Intelligence Reporter September 2026
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IATA Heads Off in New Directions with a New Head
Not a minute too soon, at least from the perspective of its embattled staff, the Board of Governors of IATA – even they finally realised that BoG was funny and have changed the name to Board of Directors – announced that the association was going to go in a different direction. It has in fact taken two new directions at once. Not only is the new DG female, Saadia Zahidi is not a former CEO of an IATA member. She is from outside the industry altogether. And young. And, an economist. Five new directions, really. Fair play to them. The announcement was clear. IATA needs a new direction, one that is based not on industry operations, but on presenting, sorry, strengthening, IATA ‘as the voice of the world’s airlines’. To bring forward the role IATA plays in lobbying, in other words. Zahidi comes to IATA from the World Economic Forum – also based in Geneva.
IATA and the Future – A Blueprint
Saadia Zahidi will certainly have her work cut out when she takes over the reins of the international airlines’ trade association in November. Established by act of the Canadian parliament in 1948, IATA’s role has shifted from its original task of managing the commercial aspects of international aviation – including agreeing fares and developing standards under the halo of anti-trust immunity and assumed quasi-regulatory status – to being one of an alphabet soup of associations, struggling for relevance with both regulators and its own members. IATA is yet to find its feet in this brave new world. Further, the task of revitalising the association, and staff, after a period of sometimes belligerent, sometimes seemingly disinterested, leadership, falls in a period of geopolitical uncertainty. Zahidi should capitalise on her outsider status for as long as possible. There is much to be done, but fortunately, much that can be done.
The Business Model is Hybridising
The nothing to see here, on, off again, on again but a hey, look over there! sort of on again, no, actually off again, no, only kidding, on again takeover of easyJet is full on, again. Apollo Global Management has emerged as having put in a cash offer, which closes mid-October. Apollo, in his chariot, towed the sun across the sky every day, and then did double shifts as the god of music, prophecy and healing, so airline management does not seem too much of a stretch. The question is more what sort of stretch Apollo sees coming for easyJet?
Not much, if you believe Apollo’s short form statement. Maybe change the colour of the aircraft from orange to yellow to better resemble Apollo’s transit of the daytime sky? According to Apollo (the acquirer, not the Greek god), there is blue sky ahead. Certainly nothing to worry about if you work there. The easyJet strategy is sound, we are told.
Autonomous Commercial Cargo: Delivery is Just Around the Corner By Philip Butterworth-Hayes: Editor, Urban Air Mobility News
In the last few days one of the most significant events in aviation history has taken place almost entirely unnoticed by the industry, or anyone else. On August 24, Merlin, a flight control company developing commercial autonomous cargo operations in New Zealand, received a Part 146 Aircraft Design Organization certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand. This allows Merlin to internally approve aircraft design changes, streamlining the design approval process, putting the company on the fast track to launching commercial autonomous cargo operations with legacy aircraft. This could happen as soon as next year. ‘In the history of aviation, no traditionally crewed, fixed-wing aircraft has flown autonomously in commercial revenue service,’ says Matt George, CEO of Merlin. ‘Our goal is for Merlin to be the first to do it, and we are working to get there in 2027 from our test facility in Kerikeri, New Zealand. By commercial service, I mean real autonomy on real aircraft, flying real routes, in revenue-generating operations.’
John-Paul Sartre and the Case of the Missing Word – Chapter 4
I may have blacked out there for a moment. The last thing I remember was Chambers telling me that ‘resilience had entered the conversation’. Once that happens, who knows what will come of the time-space continuum. This was serious. I must have come to…
The Aviation Intelligence Reporter Crossword Number 018 – Solution
