Airport Innovation Roundtable 2026
for Central Europe
AIR 2026 (Airport Innovation Roundtable) is the flagship elite forum for the Central and Eastern European (CEE) aviation sector. The event will take place on September 16–17, 2026, in Bratislava. This exclusive gathering brings together up to 150 key leaders, making it a must-attend event for Board Members and Directors of all specializations—including operations, innovations, infrastructure, marketing, finance, and security. It offers a unique platform for high-level strategic exchange and regional cooperation.
Our conference is known for inspiring, “eye-opening” sessions that address global challenges and the future of the industry. Traditionally at our events, we look beyond the aviation field. We invite guests from different backgrounds—such as world-class travelers, peace activists, and military generals—to share fresh ideas on leadership and organizational agility. A highlight of our program is always a high-impact Power Speech focused on strategic command and decision-making in high-stakes environments.
The AIR 2026 agenda focuses on resilience and digital transformation. Attendees will also enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of Bratislava Airport (BTS) and a prestigious Gala Dinner. These events provide premier VIP networking with the region’s most influential decision-makers.
Preliminary agenda
DAY 1: September 16 – First Conference Day
| TIME | SESSION |
|---|---|
| 16:00 – 18:00 | Airport Tour |
| 20:00 – 22:00 | Welcome Reception |
DAY 2: September 17 – Main Conference Day
| TIME | SESSION | SPEAKERS / DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
| 09:30 – 10:00 | Official Opening | Stanisław Wojtera (V4+), Slovak Government Representative, Dušan Novota (CEO BTS) |
| 10:00 – 10:15 | Keynote | Oliver Jankovec (ACI Europe) – Keynotes ACI perspective on the market |
| 10:15 – 10:45 | Power Speech | “Strategic Command: Elite Leadership and Decision-Making in High-Stakes Environments” |
| 10:45 – 11:30 | High-Level Strategic Panel | “More Than Airports: Resilience as a New Industry Pillar” Featuring: Dušan Novota (CEO BTS) and Oliver Jankovec (ACI Europe) |
| 11:30 – 12:00 | Coffee Break | Networking and Exhibition Visit |
| 12:00 – 12:15 | 1v1 Fireside Chat: 3SI | “3SI Connectivity Spotlight”: Infrastructure integration and North-South corridor development |
| 12:15 – 12:30 | Presentation: SITA | “Industry Innovation Preview”: Strategic technological insights from the Platinum Partner |
| 12:30 – 12:50 | Special Presentation | “Stories from Ukraine: Aviation Survival and Resilience in a Zone of Real Danger“ Oleksiy Dubrevskyy (CEO, Kyiv Boryspil Airport) on aviation survival and the nearest future. |
| 12:50 – 13:30 | Regional Focus Panel | Digital Transformation in Daily Operations |
| 13:30 – 14:30 | Lunch Break | Networking Lunch (60 minutes) |
| AFTERNOON PARALLEL SESSIONS |
| TIME | ROOM A: Infrastructure & Ops | ROOM C: Technical Workshops |
|---|---|---|
| 14:30 – 15:15 | Airport Expansion during Ongoing Ops: Business cases from Zadar and Prague airports. Presentations + panel discussion. | Workshop I – Cybersecurity: |
| 15:15 – 15:30 | The Future of Air Cargo in CEE: Infrastructure needs and new logistics, hosted by Marcin Osowski contra. 1 on 1 discussion. | Workshop II – APOC Optimization: Integrating Operations Centers for total airport management. |
| 15:30 – 16:15 | The CEE Regional Dilemma: Supporting Airports vs. Funding Routes | Workshop III Emerging hybrid security threats. Protecting critical infrastructure against hybrid and drone threats. |
| 16:15 – 16:45 | How Tourism Trends Shape the Aviation Industry and Airport Operations. | |
| 16:45 – 17:15 | Airport Fuel Management: airport-led supply, world shortages and SAF production. |
Stay at the Heart of AIR 2026: Crowne Plaza Bratislava
We are happy to announce that all conference proceedings will take place at the Crowne Plaza Bratislava. Benefit from our exclusive group rate by booking your stay within the next month to ensure your place at the center of the event.
Crowne Plaza Bratislava, located at Hodžovo námestie 2, will host all plenary sessions and the Gala Dinner. We have secured a special rate of 140 EUR per night, including breakfast, for our delegates. Please note that this guaranteed price and room block are only available until July 20, 2026. We strongly recommend booking immediately to secure your accommodation.
To reserve your room, please use the link below:
Or scan this QR code:
Please follow these steps to complete your booking:
- STEP 1 – select dates
- STEP 2 – select number of persons and rooms
- STEP 3 – select type of the room
- STEP 4 – fill in the details (name and credit card information)
