Keynote Panel at Aviation Festival Asia 2025: “The Evolving Airport Industry – Unpacking digitisation, a greener future, and strategic opportunities with airport leaders.”
While they do not own the customer relationship like an airline can, airports play a critical role in shaping the first and last impression of a country. With a few notable exceptions, the priority of an airport is to serve as an efficient transit point, whether from air to land or back to air. Consequently, efficiency and innovation are paramount.
At Aviation Festival Asia, a panel of airport leader gathered to discuss the transformative potential of technological solutions like biometrics and smart baggage handling, and the critical drive towards greater sustainability through green initiatives and future fuels. They also unpacked the challenges of stakeholder collaboration, infrastructure constraints, and staffing.
The keynote session was moderated by Monica Pitrelli, Editor of CNBC Travel, CNBC and included Athanasios Titonis, CEO, Aboitiz Infra Capital Cebu Airport Corporation, Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports Company, Yiğit Laçin, CEO, YDA Dalaman Airport, Sanjeev Kumar, Vice President, SITA at Airports, Borders & CDE, SITA, and Cyril Girot, CEO, Cambodia Airports.
During the discussion, Griffiths proposed a fresh take on innovation:
“I think the aviation industry needs a sort of complete end-to-end revolution. To look at all of these legacy processes and what can we take away rather than add in. I think this will be the mantra going forward.”
The conversation highlighted a shared commitment amongst these airport leaders to innovate and improve despite the factors limiting change. However, their vision for what this innovation should look like was not always aligned. Watch the full panel below for more.
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For more onsite at Aviation Festival Asia 2025 see:
- How did AirAsia MOVE secure a 65 per cent ancillary attach rate?
- What is the purpose of an airline alliance?
- The vision behind Air India Express’ route expansion
