Izham Ismail elected to IATA Board of Governors

Malaysia Airlines CEO Izham Ismail has joined the IATA Board of Governors during the International Air Transport Association’s 77th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Boston recently. Izham is also Managing Director and Group CEO of the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG). He will serve a three-year term until 2024. His role as member of the BoG, involves participation in providing policy directives and guidance to IATA industry committees and to their subsidiary bodies.

Izham has worked his way up through the ranks since joining the airline in the 1980s as an airline pilot, before joining the corporate side of the airline. rising to Chief Operating Officer, before being asked to take on his current role at the top in 2017.

In congratulating Izham, who he says is representing Malaysian airlines and all airlines in the Asia Pacific Region, MAG Group Chairman, Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said,

…. This is indeed a huge recognition of Izham’s leadership, having been in the industry for more than 40 years. His vast knowledge and experience encompass all aspect of the airline business – commercial or operational, and I am proud that an international body such as IATA values the contribution that Izham will bring to the BoG.

Izham responded that he is honoured to be elected and is very excited to start work on the IATA Board of Governors. He acknowledged that airlines globally are still reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, suffering huge losses. This situation is expected to continue until 2022.

…. I look forward to working closely with my colleagues on the BoG towards charting the path to recovery besides driving further growth and development of the aviation industry across the globe.

Apart from Izham’s active involvement in other industry related bodies such as the oneworld Alliance Governing Board, he also sits on the Executive Committee of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) and the Board of Directors of Tourism Malaysia. IATA represents around 290 airlines in 120 countries, comprising 82% of global air traffic. They play a key role in helping formulate global policies on critical aviation-related issues.