International Air Transport Association Explained

Formation: in Havana, Cuba
Type:International trade association
Headquarters:800 Square Victoria
Montreal, Quebec
Canada[1]
Leader Title:DG
Leader Name:Willie Walsh
International Air Transport Association
Size:300px
Membership:317 airlines (2023) from over 120 countries and regions
Abbreviation:IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is a trade association of the world's airlines founded in 1945.[2] IATA has been described as a cartel since, in addition to setting technical standards for airlines, IATA also organized tariff conferences that served as a forum for price fixing.[3]

According to IATA, it represents 317 airlines,[4] including major carriers, from over 120 countries.[5] The IATA's member airlines account for carrying approximately 82% (2020)[6] of total available seat miles air traffic. IATA supports airline activity and helps formulate industry policy and standards. It is headquartered in Montreal, Canada with executive offices in Geneva, Switzerland.[7]

History

IATA was formed in April 1945 in Havana, Cuba. It is the successor to the International Air Traffic Association, which was formed in 1919 at The Hague, Netherlands.[8] [9] At its founding, IATA consisted of 57 airlines from 31 countries. Much of IATA's early work was technical and IATA provided input to the newly created International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which was reflected in the annexes of the Chicago Convention in 1944, the international treaty that still governs international air transport.The Chicago Convention did not result in a consensus on the economic regulation of the airline industry. According to Warren Koffler, IATA was formed to fill the resulting void and provide international air carriers with a mechanism to fix prices.

In the late 1940s, IATA started holding conferences to fix prices for international air travel. IATA secretary J.G Gazdik stated that the organization aimed to fix prices at reasonable levels, with due regard being paid to the cost of operations, in order to ensure reasonable profits for airlines.[10]

In 1947 at a time when many airlines were government-owned and loss-making, IATA operated as a cartel, charged by the governments with setting a constrained fare structure that avoided price competition.[11] The first Traffic Conference was held in 1947 in Rio de Janeiro and reached unanimous agreement on some 400 resolutions.[12] IATA Director-General William Hildred recounted that about 200 of the resolutions at the Rio de Janeiro conference were related to establishing a uniform structure for tariffs charged for international air transportation.[13]

The American Civil Aeronautics Board did not intervene to stop IATA's price fixing, and in 1954 law professor Louis B. Schwartz condemned the board's inaction as an "abdication of judicial responsibility".[14] The Economist lambasted IATA's connivance with governments to fix prices and compared IATA with medieval guilds.[15]

In the early 1950s IATA's price fixing regime forced airlines to attempt to differentiate themselves through the quality of their passenger experience.[16] IATA responded by imposing strict limits on the quality of airline service.[17] In 1958, IATA issued a formal ruling barring airlines from serving economy passengers sandwiches with "luxurious" ingredients.[18] [19] The economist Walter Adams observed that the limited service competition permitted by IATA tended to merely divert traffic from one air carrier to another without at the same time enlarging the overall air transport market.[20]

From 1956 to 1975, IATA resolutions capped travel agent commissions at 7% of the airline ticket price. Legal scholar Kenneth Elzinga argued that IATA's commission cap harmed consumers by decreasing the incentive for travel agents to offer improved service to consumers.[21]

By the late 1970s, IATA's price fixing regime was seen as unattractive by many airlines. As a result, major airlines, like Singapore Airlines and Pan-American Airlines, chose to forgo IATA membership.[22]

In 1982, the sociologist John Hannigan described IATA as "the world aviation cartel".[23] IATA enjoyed immunity from antitrust law in several nations.[24]

To prevent Laker Airways from disrupting IATA's price fixing regime, IATA members allegedly used a 1977 to conspired to undercut prices on shared routes, seeking to bankrupt Freddie Laker's airline. Larker Airways bankruptcy estate later asserted claims against IATA members under the American Sherman and Clayton antitrust acts.[25] [26]

In 2006, the United States Department of Justice adopted an order withdrawing the antitrust immunity of IATA tariff conferences.[27] [28]

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted routine flights around the world. In the immediate aftermath most airlines, because of the physical distancing policies implemented by national governments, reduced their seat loading by eliminating the sale of the middle seat in a row of three. This reduction averaged out to a load factor of 62% normal, well below the IATA industry break-even level of 77%. Fares would need to rise as much as 54% if a carrier were to break even, according to calculations done by the IATA, who posit that because of "forward-facing seats that prevent face-to-face contact, and ceiling-to-floor air flows that limit the circulation of respiratory droplets" the risk of transmission is reduced. North American carriers such as WestJet, Air Canada and American Airlines all planned to resume normal pattern sales on 1 July 2020.[29] This industry-driven policy garnered immediate push-back from some Canadians, including those who felt defrauded, while Minister of Transport Marc Garneau noted that the "on-board spacing requirement is a recommendation only and therefore not mandatory" while his Transport Canada department listed physical distancing as a prophylactic among the key positive points in a guide prepared for the Canadian aviation industry.[30]

Chief executives

Focus areas

Safety

IATA states that safety is its highest priority.[32] The main instrument for safety is the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). IOSA has also been mandated at the state level by several countries. In 2017, aviation posted its safest year ever, surpassing the previous record set in 2012. The new global Western-built jet accident rate became the equivalent of one accident every 7.36 million flights.[33] Future improvements will be founded on data sharing with a database fed by a multitude of sources and housed by the Global Safety Information Center. In June 2014, the IATA set up a special panel to study measures to track aircraft in flight in real time. The move was in response to the disappearance without a trace of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 on 8 March 2014.[34]

Simplifying the Business

Simplifying the Business[35] was launched in 2004. This initiative has introduced a number of crucial concepts to passenger travel, including the electronic ticket[36] and the bar coded boarding pass. Many other innovations are being established as part of the Fast Travel initiative, including a range of self-service baggage options.

An innovative program, launched in 2012 is New Distribution Capability (NDC).[37] This will replace the pre-Internet EDIFACT messaging standard, which is still the basis of the global distribution system and travel agent channel, with an XML standard.[38] This will enable the same choices to be offered to high street travel shoppers as are offered to those who book directly through airline websites. A filing with the US Department of Transportation brought over 400 comments.[39] [40]

Environment

IATA members and all industry stakeholders have agreed to three sequential environmental goals:[41] [42]

  1. An average improvement in fuel efficiency of 1.5% per annum from 2009 through 2020
  2. A cap on net carbon emissions from aviation from 2020 (carbon-neutral growth)
  3. A 50% reduction in net aviation carbon emissions by 2050 relative to 2005 levels.

At the 2013 IATA annual general meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, members overwhelmingly endorsed a resolution on "Implementation of the Aviation Carbon-Neutral Growth (CNG2020) Strategy."[43] A representative for the European Federation for Transport and Environment criticized the resolution for relying on carbon offsets instead of direct reductions in aviation carbon emissions.[43]

Services

IATA provides consulting and training services in many areas.

Publications - standards

A number of standards are defined under the umbrella of IATA. One of the most important is the IATA DGR for the transport of dangerous goods (HAZMAT) by air.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: IATA – Office Addresses & Telephone Numbers . 2023-09-23.
  2. Book: Wragg, David W. . A Dictionary of Aviation . 9780850451634 . first . Osprey . 1973 . 164.
  3. Book: Doganis, Rigas . Flying Off Course: Airline Economics and Marketing. 2019. 978-1138224230. 29. Routledge. "There can be little doubt IATA was effectively a suppliers cartel".
  4. Web site: Current Airline Members. International Air Transport Association. 21 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231021063012/https://www.iata.org/en/about/members/airline-list/ . 2023-10-21 . live.
  5. Web site: IATA Members. International Air Transport Association. 21 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231010110835/https://www.iata.org/en/about/members/ . 2023-10-10 . live.
  6. Web site: biopharma-reporter.com. Delivering COVID-19 vaccines safely will be the 'mission of the century' for air cargo industry. 2021-04-01. biopharma-reporter.com. 11 September 2020 . en-GB.
  7. Web site: International Air Transport Association. CAPA Centre for Aviation (Informa). 21 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231011045153/https://centreforaviation.com/data/profiles/industry-associations/iata . 2023-10-11 . live.
  8. Web site: IT in general Aviation: Pen and Paper vs. Bits and Bytes. Sebastian Höhne. hoehne.net. 5 May 2014. 38. https://web.archive.org/web/20140308173753/http://hoehne.net/files/hoehne_master-thesis_llm.pdf. 8 March 2014. live.
  9. News: International Air Transport Association (IATA) - OECD . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230218043606/https://www.oecd.org/gov/regulatory-policy/IATA%20profile.pdf. Feb 18, 2023.
  10. Gazdik, J.G. Rate-Making and the IATA Traffic Conferences . Journal of Air Law and Commerce, vol. 16, no. 3, Summer 1949, pp. 298–322.
  11. Koffler . Warren W . 1966-01-01 . IATA: Its Legal Structure - A Critical Review . Journal of Air Law and Commerce . 32 . 2 . 222. "IATA is an international trade association which is cartel-like in a number of its operations. [] IATA is an international monopoly, or cartel, by either classic or modern definition. While its stated purpose is to create economic air transport, its actual operation has set prices at a level sufficient to support the least efficient of its carrier members. [] [IATA] members' governments have sent their technical experts to a meeting to negotiate the price of a commodity. These men, in the employ of their governments directly or indirectly, have been fully instructed before their departure.".
  12. Web site: IATA - Early Days . 2023-01-11 . www.iata.org . en.
  13. Hildred, William P. "International Air Transport Association: II." Air Affairs, vol. 2, no. 3, July 1948, pp. 364–379.
  14. Schwartz. Louis B.. 1954. Legal Restriction of Competition in the Regulated Industries: An Abdication of Judicial Responsibility. Louis B. Schwartz. Harvard Law Review. 67. 3. 436–475. 10.2307/1336965. 0017-811X. 1336965.
  15. News: The Economist . 1 July 1961 . 63 . Clearing the Air . 200 . 6149 .
  16. 10.1007/BF01103328. Cartels as efficient productive structures. The Review of Austrian Economics. 9. 2. 29–42. 1996. Salin. Pascal. 154931354. Pascal Salin.
  17. McGoldrick, John Lewis. Regulation of Service Competition in International Air Travel https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/hilj8&i=86 Harvard International Law Journal, vol. 8, no. 1, Winter 1967, pp. 78-115.
  18. News: Paul. Freidlander. 27 April 1958 . Sandwich Settlement. New York Times. 2–1 . subscription.
  19. Tauber, Ronald S. Enforcement of IATA Agreements. Harvard International Law Journal, vol. 10, no. 1, Winter 1969, pp. 1–33.
  20. Adams. Walter. 1958. The Role of Competition in the Regulated Industries. The American Economic Review. 48. 2. 527–543. 0002-8282. Walter Adams (economist). 1816944.
  21. Elzinga, Kenneth G. The Travel Agent, the IATA Cartel, and Consumer Welfare. Journal of Air Law and Commerce, vol. 44, no. 1, 1978, p. 47.
  22. Heller, Paul P. Recent Developments in Air Transport Regulation New Zealand Recent Law, vol. 4, no. 5, June 1978, pp. 210-216
  23. Hannigan. John A.. 1982. Unfriendly Skies: The Decline of the World Aviation Cartel. The Pacific Sociological Review. 25 . 1. 107–136. 10.2307/1388890. 0030-8919. 1388890. 158297510.
  24. Koffler. Warren. Spring 1966 . IATA: Its legal structure - A critical review. Journal of Air Law and Commerce . 32 . 222–235 .
  25. Moore, Richard Hancock. The Laker Jurisdictional Affair: The Judiciary Temporarily Avoids a Political Showdown. Wake Forest Law Review, vol. 20, no. 4, August 1984, pp. 951-974. HeinOnline
  26. Friedman, Aryeh S. Laker Airways: The Dilemma of Concurrent Jurisdiction and Conflicting National Policies. Brooklyn Journal of International Law, vol. 11, no. 2, Spring 1985, pp. 181-236
  27. Web site: DOT-OST-2006-25307-003. www.regulations.gov. 2020-02-26.
  28. Book: Wojtek, Ralf . The future of the postal sector in a digital world. 337 . 978-3-319-24454-9. Springer. 930703336. Michael A. . Crew . Timothy J. . Brennan . UPU compensation rates for packages under EU competition law: Are the lessons to be learned from other international fee arrangements. 28 November 2015.
  29. News: Atkins . Eric . WestJet and Air Canada to start selling middle seat on flights as of July 1 . The Globe and Mail Inc . 26 June 2020.
  30. News: Jones . Ryan Patrick . Critics not on board with airlines' decision to relax in-flight physical distancing during COVID-19 . CBC . 28 June 2020.
  31. Web site: IATA's Leaders over the Years . 2023-10-03 . www.iata.org . en.
  32. Web site: Safety. 2020-08-07. www.iata.org. en.
  33. News: 2017 was the safest year in aviation history – but which was the deadliest?. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/comment/2017-was-the-safest-year-in-aviation-history/ . 12 January 2022 . subscription . live. The Telegraph. 11 January 2018. Oliver Smith.
  34. News: IATA wants new airline tracking equipment. 10 June 2014. Malaysia Sun. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714223314/http://www.malaysiasun.com/index.php/sid/222727817/scat/5e8a9e9456185a7e/ht/IATA-wants-new-airline-tracking-equipment. 14 July 2014. dead.
  35. News: Gouldman. Anna. Airlines to Scrap Paper Tickets by 2007: Industry Feedback. 18 November 2013. Breaking Travel News. 25 April 2005.
  36. News: Greenwood. Gemma. IATA makes final paper ticket order. 18 November 2013. Arabian Travel News. 27 August 2007.
  37. News: Boehmer. Jay. IATA Votes To Adopt New Distribution Standards. 18 November 2013. The Beat. 18 October 2012.
  38. IATA. Cargo-XML Standards: Modernizing air cargo communication.
  39. News: Vanasse. Zachary-Cy. New Distribution Capability Or New Industry Model?. 18 November 2013. Travel Hot News. 1 May 2013.
  40. News: Orukpe. Abel. IATA urges stakeholders to collaborate, give passengers value. 18 November 2013. Daily Independent. https://web.archive.org/web/20130315191956/http://dailyindependentnig.com/2012/10/iata-urges-stakeholders-to-collaborate-give-passengers-value/. 15 March 2013. dead.
  41. News: Carbon-Neutral Growth by 2020 . IATA . 8 June 2009 . 27 June 2020 . 14 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210414025050/https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/pr/2009-06-08-03/ . dead .
  42. Web site: Climate Change . IATA.
  43. News: Harvey . Fiona . Fiona Harvey . 4 June 2013 . Airlines agree to curb their greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 . 18 November 2013 . The Guardian.