Venue: Terrace, Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre
*More speakers to come!
The emergence of electric-powered Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft for urban, suburban, and rural operations is exponential. eVTOL operations utilize the uncongested, low-altitude airspace to transport people and objects to locations that are either not traditionally served by existing modes of transportation or to compete with other existing modes of transportation. There are estimates that this disruptive new airborne technology could potentially become a USD500 billion-plus industry.
Nonetheless, the road to development of this promising industry is full of challenges – infrastructure, utilities, air traffic control, public acceptance, digital supporting systems, standards, certifications and regulations, just to name a few. With targeted operation launch in 2024 and 2025 in Europe and Asia respectively, there are still a lot of work to be done to ensure eVTOL’s seamless integration to the existing aviation ecosystem.
In this session, we will hear from prominent investors, infrastructure developers and eVTOL manufacturers on making this sci-fi invention becomes a reality.
As a sector acclaimed for pioneering initiatives, aviation transcends boundaries and drives innovation to new heights. So, it should come as no surprise that aviation has embraced emerging technologies such as the Metaverse to enhance passenger experiences.
Airports in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East are exploring the infinite possibilities of the metaverse which underlines the enormous potential of the technology. With the advent of metaverse, airports can now build experiences that bridge the physical and digital worlds.
Few airports have demonstrated that the metaverse has the ability to alter airport experience to a never-before-seen level by offering a realistic and fascinating airport experience. This technology has the potential to make travel more delightful by allowing passengers to familiarize themselves with airport infrastructure, operations, and procedures prior to their actual trip. This creates a realistic atmosphere in which users may practice and become acquainted with the airport procedure.
As the metaverse continues to evolve, the aviation industry will have to adapt and innovate to ensure it remains at the forefront of this technological revolution. This session will delve deep into the potential benefits of the metaverse and how it will transform the aviation industry in the future.
*More speakers to come!
Charu Kokate is a Senior Partner at Safdie Architects and the Director of the firm’s Singapore office. She leads the global design firm’s efforts in Asia and is an advocate for civic-minded design. Charu has spearheaded ground-breaking projects including Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort, Sky Habitat Residential Towers, and Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore.
Charu is integral to realizing and delivering complex projects which fully embody their original design intent. She connects, empowers and enables clients, contractors, and consultants—from project inception through completion.
An active mentor to emerging industry professionals, Charu has a special interest in helping women in design shape their professional growth. In addition to public talks and lectures, Charu is an active mentor of young professionals, and is often seen as a keynote speaker, and design judge both internationally, and in Singapore where she is based.
On behalf of Safdie Architects, she is a two-time recipient of Singapore’s President’s Design Award for the firm’s work on Marina Bay Sands (Design of the Year, 2011) and Jewel Changi Airport (Design of the Year, 2020).
Artificial intelligence (A.I.) has woven into almost every industry and it is increasingly being applied in many aspects by airports to improve operational efficiency and enhance overall passenger experience. Some common examples of application at airports include chatbots service, real-time baggage tracking, facial recognition for check-in and boarding, predictive data analysis for process optimisation and more. As the technology continues to mature and develop, many foresee that A.I. and big data will certainly be the key drivers in propelling airports to transform for the future.
In this panel, you will hear from the speakers on the opportunities and challenges of the growing adoption of A.I. at airports, and how airport operators can further leverage A.I. and big data in the future to streamline operations and deliver the next-level travel experience with a truly frictionless and personalised journey for passengers.
Airports are evolving from simply being transit hubs to captivating destinations for both travelers and non-travelers alike. As a result, airport operators are investing substantial resources in comprehensive marketing and branding strategies to establish themselves as reputable brands.
Conventional marketing approach has now been replaced with innovative strategies. This includes digital storytelling and hosting live shows to create a dynamic and engaging environment. Loyalty programmes, a concept previously unheard of in the context of airports, have now become part of the strategies aimed at building a positive perception among passengers.
Showcasing art and culture is another way to create a sense of place. As a gateway to the city and nation it serves, airports are harnessing the power of influencer marketing to engage with audiences beyond its catchment area. With innovative marketing and branding initiatives, airports are striving to create lasting impressions and ultimately drive revenue streams.
This session will deep dive into the innovative marketing and branding concepts embraced by airports to enhance their brand equity.
*More speakers to come
Many airports around the world are pushing the boundaries of innovation by setting up incubator labs /innovation hubs on their premises, creating a collaborative meeting platform for start-ups, developers and tech experts and allow live testing of technology products and services within their airports.
It is with these creative platforms where success may achieve through dual benefit of airports get to implement the latest technologies and small start-ups and individual developers can enjoy useful financial backing at the start, as well as use the airport as real-life testing ground from concept to commercialization later on.
In this sessions, veterans of these Airports Innovation hubs will be presenting their stories on implementing Airports Innovation hubs and showcase their best success project nurtured from these hubs.
Data is the new gold. Data is a critical asset. Data should be shared. Discover the Airport Share platform that will revolutionize the sharing of data by airports to improve operational performance, further develop customer experience and drive-up new revenue streams.
Discover the business benefits of inclusion and accessibility. A strategic operational focus on these aspects for people with hidden disabilities enhances PAX experience, yielding turnover growth, streamline processes, and reduce conflicts for staff. Former Copenhagen Airport Service Excellence Director, Stine Marsal, shares practical implementation insights and quantifies the resulting positive impacts on business though specific and thought provoking examples. As a top Scandinavian CX authority, she is the CEO of a CX leaders learning community and serves as Regional Director of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower in the EU.
Join this engaging panel discussion featuring industry experts, risk management professionals, and insurance specialists as they delve into the critical intersection of risk management, sustainability, and resilience in the airport business. Explore how sustainable practices, including renewable energy, water conservation, and waste reduction, can effectively mitigate risks and enhance the resilience of airports. Gain valuable insights into navigating the key risks faced by airports, such as natural disasters, terrorism, and cyber threats, and discover the role of risk management and insurance in mitigating these risks. Learn from the experiences and expertise of our panelists as they share effective risk management strategies, insurance options, and best practices for creating sustainable and resilient airport environments. Discover how to address the challenges of financing and insuring sustainable projects in the airport industry and join the conversation on shaping the future of risk management and sustainability in airport operations.
*More speakers to come!
Why focus on baggage? What steps to take? How to include the entire value chain? What's next? The travel industry carries considerable baggage. The carbon footprint of baggage journeys has remained hidden in plain sight for too long. It is time to focus on reducing the environmental impact of the baggage journey to holistically decarbonize the aviation industry. In this presentation, we will delve into the significance of the baggage journey for Net Zero Aviation, catalyze awareness, inspire action and include the whole value chain. From awareness raising to concrete action let’s drive change to decarbonise the baggage journey.
Considering that technology is one of the fundamental means of achieving a more barrier-free transportation system, innovative solutions are implemented to facilitate the journey of passengers with disabilities and those with reduced mobility. Digital accessibility is also one of the pillars of the ACI Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation Program (AEA). Learn how airports are enhancing a seamless travel experience with new paths to accessibility.
*More speakers to come!
Three years of pandemic has reshaped the global economy and resulted in reallocation of human capital. Many professionals in aviation with transferable skills have left the industry for better and clearer career opportunities. It is evident that, with markets relaxing administrative travel restrictions, some sectors in the industry struggles to accommodate and support the pent-up demand due to workforce shortages.
While technological advancement and the implementation of automated equipment can help alleviating the pressure on existing workforce by enhancing efficiency and productivity, there are unique capabilities of ours that no machines can ever replace, including our ingenuity, dedication and commitment. Our greatest asset lies within our people – passionate and devoted individuals who bring knowledge and unwavering determination to every touch point at our airports and every process behind the scene of our journeys.
As such, it makes retaining, developing, and upskilling aviation workforce an utmost priority.
This session invites human resource experts from around the world to share their initiatives in ensuring our aviation workforce are ready for the future.
*More speakers to come!
*Programme (including topics, speakers, etc.) is subject to further amendments without prior notice.