IATA means the International Trade Organization of Airlines

Added: 04/04/2006

Established in 1945, in Havana Cuba, The International Air Transport Association that is commonly referred to as IATA is an international trade organization of airlines that is located in Quebec, Canada. It was the successor of the International Air Traffic Association established in 1919 in The Hague. It was comprised originally of 57 members in 31 nations in North America and Europe, and the organization has grown to include more than 270 members from nearly 140 nations worldwide.

Since its establishment in 1945 the International Air Transportation Association has adhered to its founding principles and pursued its goals, namely to promote safe and inexpensive travel that was beneficial to all world nations; it also helps in the development of air commerce and to supply the means needed for the corporation of airline companies that serve directly or indirectly the international air transports, and to collaborate with the International Civil Aviation Organization; to regulate the shipping of dangerous goods, and publish the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations manual. IATA also uses a two letter destination for airlines and a three letter IATA airport codes that are used worldwide.

The main objective of the International Air Transportation Association is to assist airline companies in achieving lawful competitions and uniformity in prices. The organization has divided the world into three regions that include South and North America, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, the islands of the Pacific Ocean, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

IATA is the international trade association that offers services to its member airlines. However, it doesn't act as a compliance authority and therefore can't interfere in the matters that involve member airlines and their customers.

For over six decades, The International Transportation Association has strived to develop the commercial standards that would represent and serve the airline industry. The association's members comprise over 265 airlines including the world's largest cargo and passenger airlines. This, in general makes up 94 percent of the international air traffic. IATA fights for interests of the airlines worldwide by challenging unreasonable charges and holding governments and regulators accountable. It also strives to improve the industry's understanding among decision makers and bring awareness of the benefits that aviation can bring to global and national economies. One of the association's aims is to help the airline companies to increase passenger convenience through efficiency improvement and cost reduction.

Besides, safety is the number one priority of IATA because the organization's goal is to constantly improve the safety standards through the Operational Safety Audit. Another important concern is to minimize the negative influence of air transportation on the environment. IATA ensures that both passengers and goods can easily move through the global airline network as if they were served by a single airline company in a single country. Additionally, it offers professional support to all stockholders with an array of expert services and products like consulting, training, and publications. For customers, the organization simplifies the travel process by keeping costs down while airlines that are affiliated with IATA economically, safely, efficiently under clearly defined rules. The company serves as a go between the passengers and the airlines through centralized financial systems and applied agency service standards. Purchasing IATA goods and services is easy and convenient by going to the IATA online store.

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