Last week, the 131st IATP Conference took place in sunny Panamá City. The International Airlines Technical Pool (IATP) is a convention of airlines made up of over 130 Member Airlines, 45 “Sponsored” Airlines and over 40 OEM and service providers called “Associate Members”. This convention takes place twice yearly to discuss sharing resources, reducing costs and improving operating efficiency. The membership has grown to over 500 delegates around the world.

Saturday marked the kick-off of the IATP. We began the day early with numerous sessions, including the F/L Group Meeting, Aircraft Recovery Pool Group Meetings and Engines Poul Group Meetings. The KLM delegation included three first-time attendees: Steeve Delaffom, Maintenance Manager at station SFO; Juan Pablo Betancourt, Maintenance Manager at station PTY; and Dorothee van de Sanden, Contract Manager in Amsterdam. The first-time attendees participated in several sessions to gain a deeper understanding of the IATP and attended the SGHA Familiarization Session to acquire more knowledge of the contracts they work with on a day-to-day base. After a productive day of expanding and sharing knowledge, it was time for dinner with all the participants, which was enjoyed with a stunning view of the city.

Before our get-together we attended meetings focused on topics such as Station Restrictions and Aircraft Recovery Providers, as well as the Line Maintenance Regulatory Training that was highly captivating. In the afternoon we started with our group activity: a visit to the famous Panamá Canal, specifically the Panamá Locks. After the canal visit, we explored the historic district of Casco Viejo. Highlights included Plaza Herrera and Plaza Francia, where we enjoyed traditional dances like the Tamborito. This experience provided a wonderful cultural insight into Panamá City.

On Monday it was time to get back to business again. Monday and Tuesday were packed with back-to-back meetings and sessions that each of us attended for individual purposes. We concluded the first day of IATP with a joint dinner alongside our partners Air France and Delta Airlines. The days were long, with packed agendas starting early in the morning. The KLM delegation demonstrated commitment, dedication, and enthusiasm. We effectively showcased our strength as a KLM team, united by the same mission and goal. This was visibly successful, as Rob Beekmans was appointed as Co-Chairperson of the Pool Group, Anson Pulivelil as Co-Chairperson of the Platform Steering, and Radj Jagbandhan continues to serve as Chairperson of the Engines Pool. For both Rob and Anson, these are remarkable achievements! KLM plays a significant role as a driving force within the IATP. Congratulations!

Although the days were demanding, thanks to the entire KLM delegation, we made the IATP a great success. We strengthened our ties with the IATP organization itself, as well as with other IATP members, which is crucial given the challenges we face in the industry. Special thanks to the IATP for providing us the possibility to save costs, simplification of the operation, technical updates and the possibility to network. As a team, we positioned ourselves strongly and look back on the past week with great satisfaction.