Announcing Speakers for the Bratislava Summit!

We are proud to reveal the industry leaders joining the Airport Innovation Roundtable (AIR 2026) this September. Our preliminary agenda is taking shape, featuring a world-class lineup of experts set to explore the future of aviation resilience and regional growth in the CEE and Balkan regions.

The upcoming conference in Bratislava (September 16–17) will gather 150 top-tier executives to define resilience as the new foundation of the aviation industry. Here are the experts confirmed to take the stage:

As the leading voice for European airports, Olivier Jankovec will deliver a Keynote address providing the ACI perspective on the current market. He will also participate in the high-level strategic panel, “More Than Airports: Resilience as a New Industry Pillar,” joined by airport CEOs to redefine the security and survival of critical infrastructure.

With over 30 years of leadership spanning aircraft engineering, airline operations, and global industry affairs, Anca Apahidean brings an unmatched depth of insight into the future of aviation across the region. Her key role in managing IATA’s regional strategy and collaborating closely with airlines, airport authorities, and air navigation service providers makes her session a must-attend for anyone navigating the evolving aviation landscape.

• She will contribute to the discussion panel “The CEE Regional Dilemma: Supporting Airports vs. Funding Routes”.

Martin Kucera brings a wealth of practical experience from one of the region’s most significant hubs.

• Panel: Airport Expansion during Ongoing Ops (16:00 – 16:30): Kucera will be a featured speaker in this session, presenting a business case from Prague Airport.
• Key Focus: He will discuss the strategic and operational challenges of expanding airport infrastructure and modernizing terminals while maintaining full traffic and passenger flow.

The CEO of Riga International Airport and a prominent member of the AirCEE+ Association, Laila Odiņa, brings an essential Baltic perspective to our strategic dialogue. With extensive first-hand experience in responding to continuous hybrid attacks, she will share invaluable insights on building resilient regional hubs that must remain operational and secure while adapting rapidly to shifting geopolitical landscapes and increasing operational demands.

As the CEE Aerospace Account Driver for PwC, Tomasz Kłosowicz will bridge the gap between finance, technology, and security.

Industry Panels: He will contribute his expertise to the “Digital Transformation in Daily Operations” (12:50) and “Hybrid Resilience” (16:30) panels, the latter focusing on NIS2 Directive board liability and cybersecurity.

Representing a major regional hub, Manuela Knotek will join the debate on new financing models and digital transformation. She will specifically present the expansion of the 5G network at Vienna Airport, showcasing innovative use cases such as:

• Summer Operations: Autonomous mowing and driver assistance systems for mowing.
• Winter Operations: Driver assistance systems for mission-critical tasks. Her participation will offer delegates a deep understanding of how large-scale airports are integrating cutting-edge technology to enhance efficiency and safety in a high-stakes environment.

Mikołaj Lis will be a primary voice on airport logistics and automation. He will lead two major sessions on Thursday, September 17:

• Expert Insight (12:35 – 12:50): Lis will present “Next-Gen Baggage Handling Systems: Rethinking What’s Possible for Future-Ready Airports”. His talk will focus on the “Digital Twin” concept, exploring how virtual modeling optimizes daily operations and long-term infrastructure planning.
• Baggage Innovation Roundtable (14:30 – 15:15): Lis will host this discussion in Room London I+II, bringing together innovation leaders from major hubs like Schiphol and Dublin to discuss the transition from traditional automation to total operational efficiency.

An expert in infrastructure management and logistics, Marcin Osowski will host a dedicated session on “The Future of Air Cargo in CEE”. His 1-on-1 discussion will focus on new infrastructure requirements and innovative logistics models designed to turn air cargo into a major growth engine for regional airports.

Representing our host airport, Dušan Novota will welcome delegates to Bratislava during the official opening ceremony. Under his leadership, Bratislava Airport has become one of the fastest-growing airports in Europe. As CEO, Dušan will share insights into the rapid development and operational success of BTS, providing a first-hand look at how the airport is evolving into a key regional hub for Central Europe.

As the President of the host association, Stanisław Wojtera will officially open the AIR 2026 summit. His leadership is grounded in a distinguished career, having spent many years working in the military industry before serving as the President of Polish Airports (PPL). Stanisław will set the strategic stage for the conference, drawing on his extensive background in national infrastructure and security to highlight the vital importance of regional cooperation in today’s complex aviation landscape.