IATA vs ICAO: Key Differences
I. Definition
IATA (International Air Transport Association) is an industry organization that represents airlines.
It supports airlines with operational standards, best practices, and industry coordination.
ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) is a United Nations body.
It creates global rules and policies for international civil aviation.
The key difference is that IATA represents airlines, while ICAO sets international aviation regulations.
II. Context
Both IATA and ICAO play important roles in the aviation sector, but their missions are different.
ICAO focuses on:
- safety and security rules,
- environmental standards,
- global aviation policies adopted by countries.
IATA focuses on:
- helping airlines apply global standards,
- improving operational efficiency,
- supporting industry alignment with regulations.
In sustainability and climate topics, ICAO defines global frameworks, while IATA helps airlines implement them.
These topics are often linked to:
- aviation fuel rules such as SAF,
- European mandates like ReFuelEU,
- sustainability reporting under CSRD,
- climate disclosures aligned with ISSB.
Understanding the difference between IATA and ICAO helps companies navigate aviation regulations and reporting requirements.
III. Related terms
- SAF: Sustainable Aviation Fuel Regulations
https://www.orizscore.com/blogs/saf-sustainable-aviation-fuel-regulations - ReFuelEU: Aviation Decarbonization Mandate
https://www.orizscore.com/blogs/refueleu-aviation-decarbonization-mandate - CSRD: Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive
https://www.orizscore.com/blogs/csrd-corporate-sustainability-reporting-directive - ISSB: IFRS S1 and S2 Global Standards
https://www.orizscore.com/blogs/issb-ifrs-s1-s2-global-standards
IV. Example
An airline operates international flights.
It follows environmental rules defined by ICAO, such as climate-related standards.
At the same time, it uses IATA guidance to apply these rules in daily operations.
The airline then reports its emissions and fuel use under CSRD, links climate data to ISSB, and tracks progress on SAF and ReFuelEU requirements.
This shows how IATA and ICAO work together in practice.
