Posted on June 10th, 2025
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is a global trade association representing the world’s airlines. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, with executive offices at the Geneva Airport in Switzerland, IATA advocates for airline safety, environmental responsibility, efficiency, and standardization. Today, it represents approximately 240 airlines, accounting for over 84% of scheduled international air traffic.
IATA plays a central role in shaping commercial aviation policies and technical standards. Its primary functions include:
Founded in 1945, IATA was created to unify the global airline industry following World War II. It succeeded an earlier version based in The Hague and rapidly became the leading organization for aviation governance alongside the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
In its early years, IATA standardized:
IATA continues to influence commercial and private aviation globally. Key initiatives include:
One of IATA’s most visible contributions is its 3-letter airport and 2-letter airline code system, used globally in flight bookings, boarding passes, baggage tags, and airline operations.
For example:
See also: Airport Codes (IATA/ICAO)
While IATA is focused on commercial carriers, many of its standards are adopted by business jet operators and FBOs. At JetOptions Private Jets, we follow IATA/ICAO standards across our charter operations and use IATA airport codes for flight planning and documentation.
Whether you’re flying to an airport with an IATA code like LAX, JFK, or CDG, JetOptions offers worldwide private jet charter services. Travel in luxury, privacy, and convenience.