Africa to host 2013 IATA Annual General Meeting after 22 years

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that South African Airways will host the 69th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS).

This will be the third time that the IATA AGM will be held in Africa. The first was in Cairo, Egypt (1946) and Nairobi, Kenya (1991).

The event will be held at Cape Town’s International Convention Centre from June 2-4, 2013.

The announcement was made at the close of this year’s meeting and WATS in Beijing, China.

According to IATA, South African Airways has accepted the proposal to host the 2013 AGM.

“We look forward to hosting the global air transport community in South Africa. Holding the AGM and WATS on African soil will focus the global industry’s attention on the tremendous opportunities as trade and tourism links are being strengthened within the continent and to new and traditional markets beyond,” an IATA statement issued June 12, 2012 quoted Siza Mzimela, Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways as saying.

Tony Tyler, Director General and CEO of IATA, believes South Africa will be a “great location” for the 2013 AGM and WATS.

By Ekow Quandzie