In 2004 Dr Kostas Iatrou co-founded the Hellenic Aviation Society in Greece. His dream had always been to establish an international organization whose members would be the decision-makers of the air transport industry.
Dr Iatrou successfully launched in 2006 ATN – Air Transport News, one of the key B2B media in commercial aviation globally. The success of ATN – Air Transport News has allowed him to interact and network with the decision makers of the air transport and to participate in the key events of the industry.
In 2012 Dr Iatrou shared his idea of establishing Hermes, which was initially founded as a networking club, managed by ATN – Air Transport News. The Advisory Committee brought together to develop the project consisted of Vijay Poonoosamy (the first President and honorary member), Robert Deillon (Vice President), Dr Elijah Chingosho, Dr Pierre Coutu, Mohamed Elamiri, Mauro Oretti, Ioanna Papadopoulou, Dr Andreas Papatheodorou and Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus. After a series of meetings, the Committee agreed and signed the Memorandum and Articles of Hermes Air Transport Club.
On the 16th of March 2013 Hermes was founded in Montreal, Canada in a small ceremony held at Hilton Bonaventure. On the 6th of December 2014 Hermes hosted the Centennial Awards and presented the book 100 Years of Commercial Aviation in partnership with ICAO, ACI, CANSO and IATA at ICAO Headquarters in Montreal. In the same event, Raymond Benjamin, Secretary General of ICAO became the first Honorary Member of Hermes.
In June 2016, Hermes hosted its first reception at the IATA AGM in Dublin. In October of the same year Hermes hosted a reception in the ICAO Triennial Assembly during which Dr Benard Olumuyiwa Aliu, President of ICAO Council became Hermes’s Second Honorary Member.
In the summer of 2017 the Hermes Board took the landmark decision to transform Hermes from a Club to a non for profit organization based in Montreal, Canada, the aviation capital of the world.
In the beginning of 2018, the Hermes Board decided to actively contribute to air transport by launching its annual recommendations on key aviation issues.
On the 2nd of March 2018, the first Hermes Leaders Forum took place in Ekali, a suburb of Athens, Greece, with the theme being Ownership and Control in Aviation.
On the 11th of July 2018 Hermes officially became a non for profit organisation.
On the 23rd of July 2018 the Arab Air Carriers Organization and Hermes signed a Partnership Exchange Memorandum of Understanding.
On the 1st of November 2018 the European Regions Airline Association signed with Hermes a reciprocal Membership Agreement.
With the objective of continuing strengthening partnerships within the aviation industry, the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) and Hermes Air Transport Organisation signed on the 22nd of January 2019 a Memorandum of Understanding.
On the 3rd of May 2019, Hermes AGM & Leaders Forum took place in Ekali with the theme being Education and Performance in Aviation. During the Forum the participants had the opportunity to see and listen to Mozart’s Costa Violin. Vijay Poonoosamy became the Third Honorary Member after his decision not to renew his term as President. Jeff Poole was unanimously named President of Hermes.
On the 3rd of June 2019, the African Airlines Association and Hermes – Air Transport Organisation signed a MoU to deepen their cooperation.
On the 27th of June 2019 Hermes was invited to participate as an Observer to the 40th ICAO Assembly and submitted two information papers.
On the 24th of September 2019 Hermes – Air Transport Organisation and EUROCONTROL signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
On the 26th of October 2019 IATA and Hermes signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen their cooperation.
On the 30th of April 2020, Hermes AGM & Leaders Forum took place online with the theme being Air Transport Re-imagined and Re-invented. Salvatore Sciacchitano became the Fourth Honorary Member (the ceremony was held on Friday 28 August 2020).
On the 28th of August 2020 during the 2020 Summer Aviation Forum and the 2020 Air Transport Awards, Pieter Elbers, CEO of KLM, receives the 2020 Hermes Award.
On the 22nd of October 2020 iPADIS and Hermes concludes MoU on cooperation.
On the 9th of July 2021, during the 2021 Hermes AGM & Leaders Forum, held in Ekali, Airlines for America (A4A) and Hermes Air Transport Organisation announced a new Memorandum of Understanding. On the same day, University of the Aegean, Greece, and the Hermes – Air Transport Organisation signed a Memorandum of Cooperation.
On the 3rd of October 2021 during the IATA AGM Hermes reception, Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the Council, ICAO received the 2021 Hermes Award.
On the 10th of February 2022, during the 2022 Air Transport Awards held in Ekali, Harry Theocharis received the 2022 Hermes Award. Also Dr Kostas Iatrou, Director General of Hermes was bestowed with the 2022 Keramianakis Award of Hellenic Aviation Society for his contribution to air transport.
On the 9th of June 2022, Hermes – Air Transport Organisation held the 2022 Hermes AGM & Leaders Forum hosted by EUROCONTROL.
On the 8th of December 2022 at the International Aviation Summit: The Future of Air Transport held in Ekali and further to an initiative of Dr Kostas Iatrou, a Declaration was signed to lay down the foundation for the launch of a new collaboration mechanism under a form of a High-Level Organization. This Declaration sought to ensure the global coordination and facilitate decision-making processes for the top level of aviation leading organizations. Leaders committed to work together to establish the International Aviation Forum. In particular, the Declaration was signed by some of the top leaders of the aviation industry, i.e. Fabio Gamba. Director General of ASA; Simon Hocquard, Director General of CANSO; Dr Kostas Iatrou, Director General of Hermes – Air Transport Organisation; Mehmet Nane, Chair of the Board of Governors at IATA and Glyn Hughes, Director General of TIACA.
Hermes celebrated its 10th anniversary on Sunday 19 March 2023 in the same place that was established, Hotel Bonaventure in Montreal.
Mehmet Nane, Chair, Board of Governors of IATA received the 2023 Hermes Award. The ceremony took place during the 2023 Air Transport Awards on Sunday 19 March held in Montreal, Canada.
On Friday 22 September 2023, Airport Services Association – ASA and Hermes – Air Transport Organisation, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
During the International Aviation Summit held in Ekali on Friday 8 December, TIACA and Hermes – Air Transport Organisation, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen their cooperation.
Aviation leaders commit to work together in order to promote the value and benefits of aviation. The declaration unveiled in Ekali at the International Aviation Summit.
Board of Directors
2013-14
President – Vijay Poonoosamy
Vice President – Robert Deillon
Member – Prof Martin Dresner
Member – Jeff Poole
Member – Catalin Radu
Administrator – Dr Kostas Iatrou
2014-15
President – Vijay Poonoosamy
Vice President – Robert Deillon
Member – Prof Martin Dresner
Member – Jeff Poole
Administrator – Dr Kostas Iatrou
2015-16
President – Vijay Poonoosamy
Vice President – Robert Deillon
Member – Prof Martin Dresner
Member – Jeff Poole
Administrator – Dr Kostas Iatrou
2016-17
President – Vijay Poonoosamy
Vice President – Robert Deillon
Member – Prof Martin Dresner
Member – Henrik Hololei
Member – Jeff Poole
Administrator – Dr Kostas Iatrou
2017-18
President – Vijay Poonoosamy
Vice President – Robert Deillon
Member – Angela Gittens
Member – Henrik Hololei
Member – Jeff Poole
Administrator – Dr Kostas Iatrou
2018-19
President – Vijay Poonoosamy
Vice President & Treasurer – Robert Deillon
Secretary & Director General – Dr Kostas Iatrou
Member – Angela Gittens
Member – Henrik Hololei
Member – Jeff Poole
2019-20
President – Jeff Poole
Vice President & Treasurer – Robert Deillon
Secretary & Director General – Dr Kostas Iatrou
Member – Angela Gittens
Member – Henrik Hololei
Member – Luis Felipe de Oliveira
2020-21
President – Jeff Poole
Vice President & Treasurer – Robert Deillon
Secretary & Director General – Dr Kostas Iatrou
Member – Angela Gittens
Member – Henrik Hololei
Member – Luis Felipe de Oliveira
2021-22
President – Jeff Poole
Vice President & Treasurer – Luis Felipe de Oliveira
Secretary & Director General – Dr Kostas Iatrou
Member – Angela Gittens
Member – Henrik Hololei
Member – Eamonn Brennan
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25