World Aviation Festival 2025

World Aviation Festival 2025 is the leading conference and exhibition for the global aviation industry, designed for leaders of the world's airlines, airports, and their most senior executives responsible for software, services, marketing, and distribution. The event serves as the premier platform for discussing challenges, sharing ideas and innovations, and shaping the future of aviation.

With sixteen content-packed tracks covering every facet of the aviation industry, the festival offers comprehensive programming including keynote presentations, panel discussions, workshops, roundtables, and live demonstrations. Topics range from customer experience and AI/machine learning to sustainability initiatives, digital transformation, airline retail, payments, loyalty programs, ground operations, and cybersecurity.

The event features an extensive exhibition floor hosting over 400 companies showcasing their latest developments, a dedicated Start-up Village with 100+ industry disruptors, and unique competitions including the annual Battle of the Airline Apps and Battle of the Robots. Networking opportunities include evening receptions, social breaks, 1-2-1 meetings, and a dedicated networking app.

Event Dates

Start Date: October 7, 2025
End Date: October 9, 2025
Duration: 3 days

Keynote Speakers

The World Aviation Festival 2025 features an impressive lineup of 600+ speakers, including prominent aviation industry leaders and executives:

Willie Walsh - Director General, IATA - Speaking on meeting traveler expectations for safe, affordable and sustainable air transport

Luís Rodrigues - Chairman and CEO, TAP Air Portugal - Featured in keynote interviews on building resilient and sustainable air travel

Luis Gallego - CEO, International Airlines Group (IAG) - Discussing how IAG is leading in profitability and customer satisfaction

Yvonne Makolo - CEO, RwandAir - Representing African aviation leadership

Carolina Martinoli - President and CEO, Vueling - Speaking on the Vueling business model

Theo Panagiotoulias - CEO, Star Alliance - Discussing alliance strategies and seamless interline journeys

Paul Griffiths - CEO, Dubai Airports Company - Addressing airport experience reimagination and future innovation

Vivian Cheung - CEO, Hong Kong International Airport - Covering biometrics, efficiency optimization, and new developments at HKIA

Ricky Smith - General Manager, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport - Participating in airport leadership discussions

David Rowan - Founder, WIRED UK - Delivering insights on super-intelligent AI and passenger experience

Sophie Dekkers - CCO, easyJet - Speaking on redefining airline commercial strategy in the digital age

Eddie Wilson - CEO, Ryanair DAC - Discussing technology adoption and premium offers to boost customer experience

John Rodgerson - CEO, Azul Brazilian Airlines - Addressing market consolidation and growth in LATAM

Alex Mans - Founder & CEO, FLYR - Featured in keynote interviews on airline technology transformation

 

Complete Agenda

The three-day program runs from 9:00 AM to approximately 6:00 PM each day, with evening networking events.

Day 1 - October 7, 2025

Morning Sessions (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM):

• • Chair's Welcome Speech by Henry Harteveldt

• • David Rowan keynote on AI and passenger experience

• • Lufthansa Group transformation interview with Tamur Goudarzi Pour

• • Multiple parallel tracks covering Airline Retail, Ground Operations, IROPS, Accessibility Summit, and Startup Theatre

• • Panels on personalization at scale, accessibility improvements, and operational efficiency

• • Tech Clinic Q&A session with David Rowan

Afternoon Sessions (12:00 PM - 6:30 PM):

• • Innovation Summit sessions

• • Customer Experience presentations and panels

• • Digital Operations track

• • Sustainability discussions on financing and scaling initiatives

• • Offer & Order transformation panels

• • Talent Summit featuring COO and CXO panels

• • Start-Up Pitch Competition

• • Evening networking and social activities

Day 2 - October 8, 2025

Morning Sessions (9:00 AM - 11:30 AM):

• • TAP Air Portugal CEO welcome and interview

• • CEO interviews with Alex Mans (FLYR), Luis Gallego (IAG), and Willie Walsh (IATA)

• • Airport keynotes featuring Hong Kong, Bangalore, and Dubai airport executives

• • Star Alliance CEO panel on seamless interline journeys

Midday Sessions (11:30 AM - 2:30 PM):

• • AI/ML track sessions on aviation transformation

• • Loyalty program strategy discussions

• • Airport innovation and transformation panels

• • Marketing and payments strategy sessions

• • Digital & IT transformation discussions

• • Startup Theatre presentations

Afternoon Sessions (2:30 PM - 6:00 PM):

• • Commercial Leaders Panel on strategy execution for 2026 and beyond

• • Generative AI impact discussions

• • Airport operations panels

• • Customer experience and digital adoption sessions

• • IFEC (In-Flight Entertainment & Connectivity) panels

• • Sustainability sessions on SAF scaling and decarbonization

• • Evening party hosted by CarTrawler

Day 3 - October 9, 2025

Morning Sessions (9:30 AM - 12:00 PM):

• • Airport keynotes on smart, inclusive, and sustainable travel

• • Customer Leaders Panel on passenger expectations

• • LCC (Low-Cost Carrier) CEO Panel on evolution strategies

• • Digital product panel on Gen AI and omnichannel innovation

• • Multiple track sessions on AI/ML, airport innovation, and retail strategies

Afternoon Sessions (12:00 PM - 4:00 PM):

• • Revenue management and profitability panels

• • Airport operations optimization discussions

• • Payment strategies and resilience sessions

• • Sustainability sessions on carbon removal and electrification

• • Cybersecurity panels on AI adoption

• • Battle of the Airline Apps competition finale

The agenda features 16 specialized tracks including Keynotes, AI/ML, Airline Retail, Airport Innovation, Customer Experience, Digital & IT, Loyalty, Payments, Sustainability, and Startup Theatre, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all aviation industry sectors.