IATA’s 1st Global Airport & Passenger Meet to Explore Flying Experience

Improving the overall flying experience on the ground and in the air in view of rising travel demand will be the focus of the first Global Airport and Passenger Symposium (GAPS) to take place in Athens, on October 2-4, at the Athenaeum Intercontinental Hotel.

More than 500 industry experts, senior airline and airport executives, government authorities and solution providers are set to attend the open event, which is organized by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and will address existing passenger processes as well as how needs, trends and solutions will shape travel in the future.

“Air travel is expected to double by 2036; the industry will not be able to handle the growth or evolving customer expectations with the current processes, installations and ways of doing business. GAPS brings together experts to share research and learnings and collectively shape solutions for the future passenger journey,” said Nick Careen, IATA senior vice president, airport, passenger, cargo and security.

At the top of the agenda: data-driven technology solutions for the transformation of the airport and aircraft experience, as well as ways to facilitate the real-time exchange of operational data and to boost back office efficiency.

Experts will also discuss new technologies aimed at transforming the way passengers board planes, improvements in aircraft design and onboard systems as well as the expansion of revenue-generating opportunities.

In the meantime, IATA Chief Economist Brian Pearce will present this year’s Economic and Passenger Outlook, the results of IATA’s 2018 Global Passenger Survey, the presentation of the IATA StartUp Innovation Awards
and the outcomes of the NEXTT Innovation BootCamp.

A parallel exhibition will run showcasing the latest products, technologies and solutions.

IATA represents some 290 airlines accounting for 82 percent of total global air traffic.