IATA stands for the International Air Transport Association. Founded in 1945, it is the global trade agency for the world’s airlines, representing some 300 carriers that account for the vast majority of total air traffic. IATA’s primary mission is to set industry standards for aviation safety, security, efficiency, and sustainability. For travelers, IATA is most visible through the three-letter airport codes (like LHR for London Heathrow or JFK for New York) and two-letter airline designators (like DL for Delta) that it assigns. It also manages the complex financial systems that allow travel agents to sell tickets for multiple airlines in a single transaction. By standardizing everything from baggage handling to dangerous goods regulations, IATA ensures that the global aviation network operates as a seamless, integrated system, allowing passengers to fly across borders with confidence that the same high safety and operational standards are being met worldwide.