The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the global aviation industry’s top leadership is gathering in Rio de Janeiro for the 82nd IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS), taking place from 6-8 June 2026.
This landmark event marks the AGM’s return to South America for the first time since 1999, when Rio de Janeiro also played host. That historic 1999 meeting formally introduced the WATS format, cementing the IATA AGM as the premier global platform for high-level debate on critical aviation issues.
Hosted by LATAM Airlines Group, this year’s event is expected to draw approximately 1,500 industry leaders, government officials, and international media representatives.
“We are thrilled to meet in South America after 27 years,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “Over the past decades, the entire region has made significant investments in aviation infrastructure, positioning the continent to benefit economically and socially from air connectivity. Brazil’s rapidly modernizing aviation sector already supports 2.1% of the country’s GDP. With rich tourism resources, enormous SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) production potential, and growing exports, the potential to further strengthen Brazil’s air connectivity is a winning proposition for people, jobs, trade, and the wider economy. We’ll highlight the policies and changes needed to turn Brazil’s potential into reality as part of a program addressing aviation’s most pressing global issues.”
Brazil continues to solidify its position as the leading aviation market in South America, welcoming a record nine million international visitors in 2025. According to IATA’s Value of Aviation Report, the core aviation sector—including airlines, airport operators, onsite businesses, air navigation service providers, and manufacturers—directly employs 246,800 people and generates USD 10.3 billion in economic output. When factoring in the broader value chain, including tourism and employee spending, the industry supports 1.9 million jobs and contributes USD 46.4 billion (2.1%) to Brazil’s total GDP.
Aviation demand in the country remains exceptionally strong. In 2025, Brazil recorded an 11.5% year-on-year growth in total passenger demand, with both domestic and international traffic surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Notably, domestic traffic exceeded 100 million passengers for the first time in history, while international demand surged by 17% compared to 2024, tracking 20.4 percentage points ahead of 2019 benchmarks.
“As the host airline of the 82nd IATA Annual General Meeting, LATAM Airlines Group is honored to welcome members of the global aviation community to Brazil,” said Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group. “In Brazil, they will see an aviation market that is contributing significantly to the country’s economic development. LATAM Airlines Group is proud to be a key player in that progress which is changing people’s lives for the better. The event is a great opportunity to inspire the conditions to make aviation in Brazil and across South America an even greater catalyst for growth and development.”
Following the formal business of the AGM, the World Air Transport Summit will tackle a forward-looking agenda examining both regional opportunities and global headwinds.
A centerpiece of the summit will be the prominent CEO Panel, moderated by CNN’s Richard Quest. The panel will feature insights from:
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Luis Rodrigues, CEO of TAP Air Portugal
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Con Korfiatis, CEO of Oman Air
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Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines
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Adrian Neuhauser, CEO of Abra
Key agenda topics at WATS include:
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Turning Brazil’s aviation potential into reality
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Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): Closing the gap between Brazil’s vast production potential and immediate airline capacity needs.
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Geopolitics & Airspace: Securing international airspace corridors to accommodate growth amidst proliferating global conflicts.
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Global Trade: Navigating tariffs and evaluating the evolving role of international air cargo.
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Passenger Experience & Regulation: Analyzing passenger psychology in high-stress situations, alongside passenger rights, data privacy, and the outlook for better regulation.
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Technology: An honest assessment of whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) is living up to its promises for commercial airlines.
Celebrating Diversity The WATS program will also feature the eighth edition of the IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards. These annual accolades recognize the standout individuals and organizations driving gender balance across the aviation ecosystem in alignment with the industry’s 25by2025 initiative.
