The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that its Director General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tony Tyler, will retire in June 2016 after serving five years in the position.

“Tony Tyler is a very effective leader of IATA, who is achieving much in his role as Director General and CEO. I regret that he will be leaving the Association but respect his decision to retire next year after a long and successful career in aviation. The search will now start for a successor to be appointed at the next IATA Annual General Meeting in Dublin in June 2016.

In the meantime the Board will continue to guide and support Tony and his team in their mission to deliver a safe, efficient and sustainable airline industry,” said Mr. Andrés Conesa, Chief Executive Officer of Aeroméxico and Chairman of the IATA Board of Governors since June this year.

“After five years as Director General and CEO of IATA, I believe it will be time for me to retire and leave the organization. It is a great privilege and responsibility to lead IATA, and I am proud of what the IATA team is achieving during my term of office.

I greatly appreciate the support I receive from the Board of Governors and the membership at large, and from my colleagues. I remain fully committed to leading IATA until my successor is appointed in June next year,” said Tyler.

Before joining IATA in 2011, Mr. Tyler was Chief Executive of Cathay Pacific Airways in Hong Kong, in which capacity he also served on the IATA Board of Governors including as its Chairman from June 2009 to June 2010.