﻿<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel xml:base="https://www.iata.org/"><title>Opinions Blog</title><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/</link><description>The Opinions blog gathers insights from IATA leadership on critical current aviation matters.</description><lastBuildDate>Sat, 06 Sep 2025 10:00:36 Z</lastBuildDate><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/navigating-turbulent-skies-with-certainty/</link><title>Navigating Turbulent Skies with Certainty</title><description>Airlines use real-time data and AI tools to manage turbulence through the Turbulence Aware program, aiming to improve safety and ensure more comfortable flights.</description><pubDate>Mon, 18 Aug 2025 02:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/operating-safely-in-a-more-conflict-ridden-world/</link><title>Operating Safely in a More Conflict-Ridden World</title><description>Recent conflict in the Middle East understandably has passengers asking what measures are in place to keep flying safe when there are military activities including missile launches.</description><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2025 02:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/iata-80/</link><title>Rising to Challenges Old and New – IATA at 80</title><description>On 19 April 1945, 80 years ago, 57 airline leaders met in Havana, Cuba to form a unique association of airlines that would promote safe, regular and economical transport for the benefit of the peoples of the world, to foster air commerce, and to study the problems connected therewith.</description><pubDate>Wed, 23 Apr 2025 08:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/willie-walsh-india-aviation-industry/</link><title>Willie Walsh on India's Aviation Industry</title><description>"2025 will be an exciting year for Indian aviation. June will be a highlight when Delhi will turn into the global aviation capital for the 81st IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit, sponsored by IndiGo."</description><pubDate>Mon, 31 Mar 2025 05:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/interview-with-willie-walsh-at-wings-of-change-europe/</link><title>Interview with Willie Walsh at Wings of Change Europe</title><description>Read IATA's Director General's interview at Wings of Change Europe.</description><pubDate>Thu, 05 Dec 2024 06:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/an-overview-of-unfccc-cop29-in-baku/</link><title>An Overview of UNFCCC COP29 in Baku</title><description>IATA's SVP Sustainability &amp; Chief Economist Marie Owens Thomsen reflects on UNFCCC COP29, where IATA provided input into two streams of negotiations relevant to aviation.</description><pubDate>Wed, 27 Nov 2024 06:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/the-right-policies-for-air-transport-can-help-the-new-european-commission-in-its-focus-on-competitiveness/</link><title>The Right Policies for Air Transport Can Help the New European Commission in its Focus on Competitiveness</title><description>IATA's Director General Willie Walsh reflects on a report from Mario Draghi into the future competitiveness of the EU, which had some interesting policy recommendations for the aviation sector.</description><pubDate>Fri, 20 Sep 2024 03:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/the-crowdstrike-it-outage-carries-lessons-for-regulators/</link><title>The CrowdStrike IT Outage Carries Lessons for Regulators</title><description>IATA's Director General Willie Walsh reflects on the CrowdStrike IT outage on Friday 19 July 2024.</description><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jul 2024 01:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/why-the-eu-mrv-on-non-co2-emissions-should-be-voluntary/</link><title>Why the EU MRV on Non-CO2 Emissions Should Be Voluntary</title><description>IATA's Director General Willie Walsh explains IATA's position on the EU Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) process on non-CO2 emissions.</description><pubDate>Wed, 10 Jul 2024 02:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/net-zero-industrial-act-is-a-tremendous-opportunity-for-eu-states/</link><title>Net Zero Industrial Act Is a Tremendous Opportunity for EU States</title><description>Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA's SVP Sustainability &amp; Chief Economist, reflects on the opportunity represented by the Net Zero Industrial Act (NZIA) for EU states.</description><pubDate>Thu, 08 Feb 2024 07:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/conrad-cliffords-thoughts-from-cop28/</link><title>Conrad Clifford's Thoughts from COP28</title><description>"As my IATA chapter closes, I’m full of optimism for the future of aviation".</description><pubDate>Sun, 10 Dec 2023 23:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/setting-the-record-straight-on-inflation-and-airfares-in-europe/</link><title>Setting the record straight on inflation and airfares in Europe</title><description>IATA's Director General Willie Walsh shares his thoughts about data used to measure inflation and airfares in Europe.</description><pubDate>Tue, 21 Nov 2023 03:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/creating-a-virtuous-circle-of-investment-in-sustainable-aviation-fuel/</link><title>Creating a virtuous circle of investment in Sustainable Aviation Fuel</title><description>Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA Senior Vice President Sustainability &amp; Chief Economist, reflects on the need to create a virtuous circle in investment for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).</description><pubDate>Tue, 17 Oct 2023 05:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/thoughts-on-icaos-role-in-data-protection/</link><title>Thoughts on ICAO’s role in data protection</title><description>Conrad Clifford, IATA Deputy Director-General and Corporate Secretary, reflects on ICAO’s role in data protection.</description><pubDate>Thu, 12 Oct 2023 07:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/air-navigation-service-providers-should-be-forced-to-pay-for-their-service-failures/</link><title>Air navigation service providers should be forced to pay for their service failures</title><description>The failure of 28 August should be considered as merely the most egregious example of the ongoing failure of air navigation services across Europe.</description><pubDate>Wed, 06 Sep 2023 13:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/environmental-grandstanding-wont-help-us-reduce-emissions/</link><title>Environmental grandstanding won’t help us reduce emissions</title><description>Rafael Schvartzman, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Europe, says airlines need the correct support to achieve net zero in the region.</description><pubDate>Mon, 22 May 2023 15:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/learning-covids-lessons-to-be-ready-for-the-next-health-crisis/</link><title>Learning COVID’s lessons to be ready for the next health crisis</title><description>Conrad Clifford, IATA’s Deputy Director General, has three ‘asks’ of governments concerning lessons from the global pandemic.</description><pubDate>Mon, 22 May 2023 08:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/aviation-provides-critical-relief-in-crises/</link><title>Aviation provides critical relief in crises</title><description>Each and every day airlines make an enormous positive contribution to humanity by connecting people, cultures, businesses, and economies.</description><pubDate>Sun, 21 May 2023 22:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/european-politicians-need-to-get-real-about-aviation-and-environment/</link><title>European Politicians Need to Get Real About Aviation and Environment</title><description>Willie Walsh explains why Europe should take action on the Single European Sky to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. </description><pubDate>Wed, 21 Dec 2022 14:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/is-this-the-end-of-airline-deregulation-in-the-united-states/</link><title>Is this the end of airline deregulation in the United States?</title><description>Doug Lavin, IATA’s Vice President, Member and External Relations, North America says re-regulation of the US market will not deliver consumer benefits.</description><pubDate>Sun, 18 Dec 2022 23:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/statement-on-the-unlawful-invasion-of-ukraine/</link><title>Comment on the Conflict in Ukraine</title><description>Willie Walsh appalled by recent events that are happening in Ukraine.</description><pubDate>Sun, 27 Feb 2022 14:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/slots-rules/</link><title>Slot Rules Must Respond to Demand</title><description>Willie Walsh explains why slots rules should respond to demand and cater for flexibility in today's volatile environment. </description><pubDate>Tue, 18 Jan 2022 16:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/omicron-variant/</link><title> Pavlovian response to introduce travel restrictions will not stop Omicron</title><description>Willie Walsh views on governments reactions to the Omicron variant. Travel restrictions won't  stop the spread, they will harm people and economies.</description><pubDate>Tue, 30 Nov 2021 13:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/reflections-on-9.11</link><title>Reflections on 09.11</title><description>On September 11, 2001, the world changed forever. At a time when the world’s attention is focused on COVID-19, commemorating the tragic events of 9.11 is crucially important.</description><pubDate>Sat, 11 Sep 2021 12:00:00 Z</pubDate></item><item><link>https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/opinions/eu-commission-blindness-on-slot-rules/</link><title>EU Commission blindness on slot rules risks environmental and financial lunacy</title><description>It is difficult enough for the airline industry battling the pandemic with demand down 80% without also finding hands are tied by regulators bungling the issue of slots. </description><pubDate>Thu, 01 Jul 2021 10:00:00 Z</pubDate></item></channel></rss>