Bringing together more than 4,500 attendees, 600 speakers, and 400 exhibitors, World Aviation Festival (WAF) returns to Lisbon, Portugal for 2025.
Over 7th-9th October, our speakers, panellists, and startups will descend on the FIL exhibition centre for an event that promises to be the most dynamic and insightful WAF yet.
Top themes under discussion this year include:
- AI innovation and transformation, from chatbots to airport tech
- Revolutionising retail and payments for optimised revenue
- The changing customer experience in a digital world
- Building resilience in a challenging economic environment
- Sustainable development and growth
What do I need to know before I arrive?
Badges can be collected ahead of time on Monday 6th October, 14.00-17.00 at the Grand Hall FIL, or as the event opens on each day. All attendees will need to bring a photo ID to collect their badge.
Bag checks will also be taking place. Arrive early to skip the queues.
Be sure to download the Aviation Festival App ahead of time to view the full agenda and connect with other attendees.
Who’s speaking at the event?
From keynote addresses to roundtables, WAF brings together a diverse range of speakers from leading airlines and airports, including:
- Luís Rodrigues, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO, TAP Air Portugal
- Eddie Wilson, CEO, Ryanair DAC
- Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports
- Willie Walsh, Director General, IATA
- Theo Panagiotoulias, CEO, Star Alliance
- Maurice Jenkins, Chief Innovation Officer, Miami International Airport
See the full list of over 600 speakers here.
If you miss a speaker you were really excited to hear, the World Aviation Festival blog will be on-the-ground at the event, conducting exclusive video conversations with our top attendees. Subscribe to our newsletter to make sure you don’t miss an interview.
WAF’s sixteen tracks are packed with presentations and panels discussing the hottest topics in aviation right now. These include successful AI use cases, examining the evolving role of low-cost aviation, and digital transformation across marketing, sales, and customer service.
Explore the agenda to see the full list of sessions.
Which exhibitors can I connect with?
2 pavilions at FIL will be packed with more than 400 exciting exhibitors at the cutting-edge of technology. Use our expo space to explore the latest innovations in payments, IROPS, cabin management, and so much more.
Exhibitors include:
- FLYR
- PROS
- CarTrawler
- Hopper Technology Solutions (HTS)
- Amadeus
- Microsoft
- Viasat
Meanwhile, at our Startup Village, you can connect with 80+ disruptive entrepreneurs on the rise.
If you’re looking to connect with specific exhibitors, you can message them on the app.
What about networking opportunities?
WAF provides dedicated avenues for networking. At the Partnering Programme Lounge, a new addition for 2025, our team will be connecting businesses from across the event to foster productive partnerships for the future.
Additionally, we’re hosting two dedicated drinks receptions onsite so attendees can maximise their opportunities for connection.
- Tuesday 7th October from 17.30: Drinks and nibbles near the keynote stage in Pavilion 2
- Wednesday 8th October from 17.45: VIP drinks hosted by CarTrawler in FIL Square
We can’t wait to see you at WAF!
World Aviation Festival 2025 is set to be the biggest edition of the event yet, and we can’t wait to welcome you all. If you’re sharing anything about from Lisbon on social media, don’t forget to add #AviationFest!
