The role of commercial aviation in providing assistance and support during natural disasters and humanitarian crises has been highlighted at the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Istanbul, Türkiye. (IATA is the International Air Transport Association, the global representative body for the airline industry.) “When crises strike, aviation is there,” assured IATA director-general Willie Walsh. “Connectivity is essential to get aid and first responders to where they are needed. The response to the recent earthquake in southern Türkiye and Syria was no exception. Airlines helped save lives in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake. And airlines continue to help accelerate the recovery with vital cargo shipments.”