CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Airlines in Transition 2026
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Day 1 - Thursday 23 April 2026 |
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08:00-09:00 |
Registration, Networking & Coffee |
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09:10-09:25 |
Host Welcome German Federal Ministry of Transport, State Secretary, Stefan Schnorr Visit Berlin Berlin Brandenburg Airport, CEO, Aletta von Massenbach |
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09:20-09:35 |
State of the Industry CAPA - Centre for Aviation, Head of Analysis, Rich Maslen |
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09:35-10:15 |
Airline 2050: Beyond the Seat - Building the Future-Ready Airline With net margins hovering below 5%, selling seats alone can no longer sustain profitability. Airlines are rapidly evolving from transport providers into sophisticated retail platforms, with non-ticket revenue now contributing as much as 50% of total income for industry leaders. This pivot reframes passengers as lifetime value propositions and opens the door to new business models-personalised marketplaces, lifestyle ecosystems, and subscription services. Yet the path forward raises critical questions: Will investors reward diversification or demand focus on the core product?
As technology, partnerships, and resilience strategies reshape the industry, this session brings CEOs and experts together to debate whether the transformation is an evolution or a revolution-and what it means for aviation's future. Moderator: KornFerry Senior Client Partner, Michael Bell Panel: Allegiant, CEO Greg Anderson ITA, CEO, Joerg Eberhart Aegean, CEO, Dimitris Georgiannis Volotea, Founder & CEO, Carlos Muñoz |
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10:15-10:45 |
Airline Leader Interview Lufthansa Group EVP Strategy & Member of Group Executive Committee, Tamur Goudarzi Pour Lufthansa, EVP Strategy & Member of Group Executive Committee, Tamur Goudarzi Pour Moderator: JLS Consulting, Director, John Strickland |
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11:15-11:55 |
Monetising the Customer Relationship: Non-fare revenues The most forward-thinking airlines are moving beyond traditional à la carte ancillaries toward sophisticated monetisation strategies that create value throughout the customer journey. Today's passengers-increasingly discerning and experience-focused-are challenging carriers to prove their value proposition at every touchpoint. Airlines can now showcase their full product portfolio with rich content, dynamic pricing, and ancillary options that were impossible in traditional distribution channels. The ability to recognise and respond to individual customer preferences has improved dramatically, with some carriers reporting conversion increases of 30% through personalised merchandising strategies.
Moderator: Atmosphere Research Group, President, Henry Harteveldt Panel Finnair, Chief Customer Officer, Simon Large SAS, CCO, Paul Verhagen Virgin Atlantic, Chief Customer Officer, Juha Jaervinen |
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11:55-12:10 |
How Rolls-Royce's transformation is powering a new chapter for the Trent 1000 Rolls-Royce, Programme Director for the Trent 1000 Taskforce, Rachel Walker Moderator: CAPA - Centre for Aviation, Head of Analysis, Rich Maslen |
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12:10-12:40 |
Airline Leader Interview, Emirates CEO Sir Tim Clark Emirates, President, Sir Tim Clark Moderator: CNN, Anchor & Correspondent, Richard Quest |
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13:50-14:05 |
From Transaction to Trust What Actually Drives Airline Customer Behaviour Today Cover Genius, SVP Strategic Partnerships, Peter Smith |
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14:05-14:35 |
Airline Leader Interview Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi Wizz Air, CEO, Jozsef Varadi Moderator: CNN, Anchor & Correspondent, Richard Quest |
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14:35-15:10 |
Building resilient and innovative responses to supply chain disruptions Global events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing geopolitical conflicts, have significantly disrupted the aviation supply chain, leading to shortages of aircraft parts, delays in manufacturing timelines, and escalating costs. Airlines are now faced with the challenge of maintaining operational efficiency despite delays in the delivery of aircraft, engines, and critical components, compounded by labour shortages and the growing demand for sustainable practices in sourcing and logistics. This panel discussion will explore innovative strategies to address these challenges, focusing on risk mitigation, strengthening partnerships with suppliers, and adopting forward-thinking approaches to build a more resilient, adaptive, and sustainable supply chain that supports the long-term growth and stability of the aviation industry. Moderator: MACH10, Aviation Consultant & Commentator, William Boulter Panel: Emerald Airlines, Founder & Chairman, Conor McCarthy Flightscape Powered by CAE, Vice President Sales, Harshavardhan Majeti Iberia, COO, Ramiro Sequeira TUI Airline, COO, Tilman Reinshagen |
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15:10-15:45 |
The A220's Path to Benchmark Reliability and Opening New Markets This panel will reveal how the A220's unique "clean-sheet design"-the only one launched in the small single-aisle market in the 21st century-has become a game-changing differentiator for airlines, delivering unrivalled economics, superior cabin comfort, and outstanding operational flexibility. Join us as we also share how we navigated the initially stony path towards benchmark operational reliability and engine durability. Finally, we'll provide an outlook how the A220 is empowering airlines to grow and open new horizons in previously untapped markets. Moderator: Airbus, Head of Single-Aisle Marketing, Benjamin Peiron Panel: Azzora, SVP Marketing, Cathal Kyle LOT Polish Airlines, CCO, Robert Ludera |
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16:20-16:50 |
From Cost to Control: Redefining Airline Payments Payments are no longer just a cost to manage, they influence revenue, customer conversion, and competitive positioning. Airlines today face rising card fees, booking abandonment caused by friction, and the added complexity of local payment preferences in emerging markets. At the same time, finance leaders see opportunities to optimise working capital, improve settlement efficiency, and build loyalty by shaping more of the payment experience directly.
Moderator: ASM Global Route Development, Aviation Consulting Director, Edmond Rose Panel: Etihad VP Treasurer & Investor Relations, Marco Simi Lufthansa Group, Senior Director Distribution & Payment Transformation, Puck Voorneveld Kiwi.com, Chief Business Development Officer, Mitzi Berberi Endava, SVP & Industry Principal, Matthew Williamson |
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16:50-17:30 |
Navigating Global Turbulence: Strengthening Collaboration in Aviation In an era defined by geopolitical conflicts, economic uncertainty, and escalating operational challenges, the aviation industry must unite to navigate these turbulent times. From the ripple effects of Middle East conflicts to broader global concerns, airlines and industry stakeholders face shared obstacles that require collective solutions. A critical aspect of this discussion is the need to address airline fuel hedging as a key strategy for mitigating financial risks and ensuring operational stability. This dialogue invites leaders to explore approaches for resilience, collaboration, and innovation, including fuel hedging practices, to tackle these challenges and ensure the aviation sector remains agile and prepared for an unpredictable future. Join the conversation to shape a united response to global disruptions and drive sustainable progress. Moderator: CNN, Anchor & Correspondent, Richard Quest Panel: Embraer Commercial Aviation, President & CEO, Arjan Meijer Lufthansa, EVP Strategy & Member of Group Executive Committee, Tamur Goudarzi Pour Air Serbia, CEO, Jiri Marek SalamAir, CEO, Adrian Hamilton-Manns |
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17:30-17:35 |
Day 1 Closing Remarks |
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19:00-22:30 |
Networking Dinner |