The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group, has taken up duties as Chair of the IATA Board of Directors. His one-year term began at the conclusion of the 82nd IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 8 June 2026.
Alvo is the 84th Chair of the IATA Board of Directors on which he has served since 2020. Alvo succeeds Luis Gallego, CEO of International Airlines Group (IAG). Gallego will continue to serve on the Board.
“Aviation is at a defining moment, with an increasingly important role in connecting people, enabling trade, and supporting economic development around the world. Chairing the IATA Board of Directors at this time is a responsibility I take with great commitment. As we navigate a more complex environment, our industry must continue working together to strengthen safety, improve efficiency, advance sustainability, and unlock the benefits of connectivity for more people and communities. I look forward to working with IATA’s members, governments, and industry partners to help ensure aviation remains a force for opportunity, resilience, and growth,” said Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group.
Alvo has over 25 years of experience in the aviation industry. He joined LAN Airlines (now LATAM Airlines Group) in 2001 and held several leadership positions across finance, commercial, and strategic functions before being appointed CEO in 2020. Shortly after becoming CEO, Alvo led LATAM through its Chapter 11 restructuring process and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, overseeing the group’s successful transformation and emergence in 2022.
Under Alvo’s leadership, LATAM has strengthened its position as the leading airline group in Latin America, expanding connectivity across the region and to international markets, advancing its sustainability agenda, and delivering strong operational and financial performance. Today, LATAM serves more than 161 destinations in 27 countries and plays a key role in connecting South America within the region and with the world.
“Luis Gallego has been a diligent and tireless Chair of the IATA Board of Directors, particularly as we worked through the complex issues of modernizing IATA’s governance. I thank him personally for his great support. The Board will be in very safe hands as its leadership passes to Roberto Alvo. Having guided LATAM Airlines Group through significant challenges to record profits, he has the experience we need to help IATA meet members’ needs during challenging times. We have already seen an example of his support for IATA’s work in generously hosting and presiding over a successful AGM in Rio de Janeiro,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
Chair Elect and Board Appointments
IATA announced Mehmet Tevfik Nane, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Pegasus Airlines, to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors from June 2027, following Alvo’s term. IATA also published the full list of its 32 Board members.
