Taiwan at the forefront of global aviation : EVA Air president elected to IATA board

Taiwan’s aviation industry reached a major milestone at the 82nd Annual General Meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the election of Clay Sun, President of EVA Air, to its Board of Directors.

This unprecedented appointment marks the first time a Taiwanese executive and airline have been appointed to the highest decision-making body of this institution, founded in 1945, which represents more than 360 carriers handling over 80% of global air traffic from its headquarters in Montreal and Geneva.

Supported by four strategic committees specializing in governance, finance, audit, and sector policy, this council guides the overall political and economic direction of the global aviation industry—a leadership role in which Willie Walsh, the current IATA Director General, intends to fully leverage Clay Sun’s extensive expertise in both the cargo and passenger transport sectors.

While celebrating this international recognition as a fundamental milestone for his country’s standing, the President of EVA Air reaffirmed his commitment to actively contributing to the sector’s sustainability, reinforcing his company’s position as a global leader at a time when IATA continues to modernize network interconnection through standardized billing and distribution tools such as BSP and NDC, as well as the management of international airport codes.