Airport Innovation Roundtable 2026
for Central Europe
16-17 September
Crown Plaza Bratislava
Event agenda
DAY 1: September 16 – First Conference Day
| TIME | EVENT |
|---|---|
| 16:00 – 18:30 | Airport Tour |
| 19:00 – 21:00 | Welcome Reception |
DAY 2: September 17 – Main Conference Day
| TIME | EVENT |
|---|---|
| 9:00 – 9:30 | Registration and networking |
| 9:30 – 10:00 | Opening ceremony (Denisa Žiláková, Dušan Novota, Stanisław Wojtera) |
| 10:00 – 10:15 | Poland. More than you expected – Polish Tourism Organisation. Pavel Trojan (POT, Prague) |
| 10:15 – 10:30 | Olivier Jankovec, ACI Europe General Director – Keynotes ACI perspective on the market |
| 10:30 – 10:50 | Gen. Tadeusz Mikutel – Decision-Making in High-Stakes Environments |
| 10:50 – 11:30 | More Than Airports: Resilience as a New Industry Pillar. Discussion panel Marcin Osowski, Julian Jäger, Dana Madunická, Laila Odina, Bogdan Mîndrescu, Anca Apahidean, Olivier Jankovec |
| 11:30 – 12:00 | Coffee Break |
| 12:00 – 12:15 | The next era of passenger travel: Digital, connected and frictionless (SITA Industry Innovation Preview) Felix Sigel |
| 12:15 – 12:35 | Oleksiy Dubrevskyy – Resilience Under Pressure: Leading Boryspil Through War and Preparing for Aviation’s Return |
| 12:35 – 12:50 | Next-Gen Baggage Handling Systems: Rethinking What’s Possible for Future-Ready Airports (DIMARK) Mikołaj Lis |
| 12:50 – 13:30 | Digital Transformation in Daily Operations Grzegorz Zajączkowski, Manuela Knotek, Roman Body, Jeroen van Brussel, Tomas Dworschak, Tomasz Kłosowicz |
| 13:30 – 14:30 | Lunch break |
| Conference hall (London I+II) | PwC Workshop (London III) (By invitation only) | |
|---|---|---|
| 14:30 – 15:15 | Baggage handling Innovations of Recent Years: From Automation to Operational Efficiency Mikołaj Lis, Alexandros Noutsos, Tomasz Lenart, Michael Doughty, Henrik Elm Gulløv | Module 1 State Aid for Route Network Expansion – (PwC Experts) |
| 15:15 – 16:00 | Industry Insights & Innovation Showcase: Strategic side of Airport outsourcing Jiří Petržilka, Menzies Aviation Oways Saleh /EURO AERO Proof of the walkaround: sealed video records of aircraft inspections on the ramp Jaroslav Brezina, Walk-Check Systems Ivan Maslac / WIND Dubrovnik | Module 2 – EU Funds for Military Mobility & Dual-Use Infrastructure – (PwC Experts) |
| 16:00 – 16:30 | Airport Expansion during Ongoing Ops Natalia Roj, Josip Klišmanić, Michał Witkowski, Antonín Kazda, Martin Kucera, Tomas Janecek | |
| 16:30 – 17:00 | Hybrid Resilience: Defending the Invisible Perimeter against Cyber and Drone Threats Joanna Wieczorek, Oleksiy Dubrevskyy, Adam Bergman, Tomasz Kłosowicz | |
| 17:00 – 17:45 | The CEE Regional Dilemma: Supporting Airports vs. Funding Routes Tatsiana Andrushka, Mária Schvarczová, Anca Apahidean, Nina Vojcic,Mihai Pătrașcu, Razvan Horga, Ivan Maslac |
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 120 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.
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.
Accommodation Booking Information
Option 1: Online Booking (Credit Card Required)
You can book your room directly using our dedicated link by clicking the button below (please note that a credit card is required to secure the reservation through this system):
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)
Option 2: Direct Email Booking (Bank Transfer / Invoice)
If you do not have a corporate credit card and prefer to pay via bank transfer in advance, please send your reservation request directly to the hotel:
- Email: reservation@cpbratislava.sk
- Email Subject: AIR 2026 – Room Booking Request – [Your Name]
Please include the following details in your email:
- Guest Name(s):
- Check-in Date: (e.g., September 16, 2026)
- Check-out Date: (e.g., September 18, 2026)
- Company / Billing Details: Company Name, Address, and VAT/Tax ID (for the proforma invoice)
The hotel team will process your booking manually and issue a proforma invoice for bank transfer payment.
