Istanbul: The 34^th ACI EUROPE Annual Congress & General Assembly commences today in Istanbul, marking the start of the most important gathering of pan-European airport and aviation leaders, hosted by iGA Istanbul Airport.

As C-suite aviation executives, policymakers, business partners, analysts, and innovators touch down in the vibrant mega-city straddling Europe and Asia, the stage is set for the latest insights, analysis and debates against the background of continued change and disruption across the political, economic, societal and technological axes.

With the Super-Election Year swaying political directions, war raging on the continent and at its doorstep, decarbonisation remaining the mother of all challenges and our aviation market undergoing structural changes, the need for Europe’s airports to come together and chart the way forward as a community is at an all-time high.

The conference programme, meticulously curated by ACI EUROPE to address these challenges, includes the following highlights:

• Keynote address by Türkiye’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, on how aviation is positioned within the country’s strategic agenda and what the future holds;
• Cornerstone “State of the Industry” address, presenting the latest industry data, outlook, key challenges and way forward;
• Keynote interviews with top officials from the European Commission providing insights into the future of EU aviation, climate and border control policies;
• The Leadership Symposium bringing together the CEOs of Athens International, Fraport, iGA Istanbul Airport, London-Heathrow, Rotterdam-The Hague and VINCI Airports;
• Panel discussions working through key issues for the industry, including: the impact of geopolitics, sustainability and the license to operate, the Turkish aviation market’s outlook, operational and financial resilience, innovation and more.

Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE said: “The airport business has shifted significantly to adapt to a long-tailed recovery, extreme cost pressures, geopolitics and the tall orders of net zero and digital transformations. We are in the midst of a generational change, with the future of sustainable connectivity in Europe at stake. Our annual gathering in Istanbul is the time and place for industry leaders to take the bull by its horns — taking stock of the challenges while accelerating our collective vision of sustainable and competitive connectivity for passengers, communities, and the planet.”

Selahattin Bilgen, CEO of iGA Istanbul Airport: “We are honoured to host ACI Europe’s Annual Congress here in Istanbul, Türkiye, welcoming esteemed delegates to our historic city for this globally recognised event. iGA Istanbul Airport stands as a global hub, strategically bridging Europe, Asia, and the Middle East with unparalleled connectivity. Our commitment to sustainability is ingrained in every aspect of our operations, ensuring that growth is balanced with environmental responsibility. With our state-of-the-art facilities and expansive capacity, iGA Istanbul Airport not only supports Turkish Airlines' extensive network but also exemplifies our commitment to excellence and innovation in the aviation sector. Hosting this prestigious congress underscores our dedication to setting new industry standards and we look forward to facilitating meaningful discussions and collaborations that will shape the future of aviation.”

The 34^th ACI EUROPE Annual Congress and General Assembly will also comprise the Awards Ceremony for the 2024 Best Airport Awards, recognising and celebrating excellence in airport management across a range of areas, including environmental performance, leadership & HR, digital transformation and across-the-board resilience.