IATA's mission is to represent, lead, and serve the airline industry. We improve understanding of the air transport industry among decision makers and increase awareness of the benefits that aviation brings to national and global economies.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the "backbone" of the global aviation industry, serving as the trade association for nearly 330 airlines that carry 80% of the world's air traffic. Its importance lies in standardization; IATA creates the universal rules for everything from how your luggage is tagged (those 3-letter airport codes like CDG or LAX) to how your ticket is priced and processed. Without IATA, a multi-airline journey across different countries would be an administrative nightmare. One of its most critical functions is the Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP), which allows travel agents and airlines to settle payments through a single secure system, facilitating billions of dollars in transactions annually. IATA also leads the industry in safety and security standards, such as the "IATA Operational Safety Audit" (IOSA), which is a mandatory requirement for all member airlines. In 2026, IATA is at the forefront of the "Fly Net Zero" initiative, setting the technical standards and carbon-offsetting protocols that are guiding the global airline industry toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, ensuring that aviation remains both safe and environmentally responsible.