Sheldon Hee to Lead IATA's Asia-Pacific Operations

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has appointed Sheldon Hee as Regional Vice President, Asia-Pacific, effective 1 June 2025.

Based in Singapore, Hee will lead IATA in the Asia-Pacific, a region covering 39 countries and home to 53 IATA member airlines.

Hee brings over 25 years of experience in the airline industry. He has held various management roles at Singapore Airlines in Singapore, Japan, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Prior to joining IATA, Hee was the airline’s Vice President for Partnerships and International Relations.

“Having spent my professional life in an airline, I am humbled and privileged to continue contributing at an industry level by leading IATA’s activities in Asia-Pacific," Hee said. 

"The region is vast and diverse, with states at different stages of aviation development. I see significant opportunity for the stakeholders across the region to work together to achieve the region’s potential. Together with the well-established IATA team, I look forward to working with our member airlines, governments and partners across the region to support the safe, efficient, and sustainable growth of an industry that is a catalyst for economic and social development.”

The Asia-Pacific region is estimated to observe the fastest-growing passenger demand in the next 20 years. In 2024, it accounted for a third of global passenger traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), and is projected to contribute more than half of global passenger traffic in the following two decades.

Hee takes over from Dr Xie Xingquan, who was ad-interim RVP for the region (in addition to his responsibilities for North Asia) following Philip Goh’s retirement in April 2024.