Muscat: Under the patronage of His Excellency Engineer Said bin Hamoud Al Ma’wali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oman Airports, and in the presence of several Highnesses and Excellencies as well as experts in the field of aviation and airports sector from various countries around the world, and in the presence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Director General of the Airports Council International and the presidents of the regional councils, the Sultanate of Oman, represented by “Oman Airports”, will host “Airport Innovate Conference and Exhibition” at the Oman Conference and Exhibition Center from 21 to 22 November 2023.
Participants will discuss the latest technological trends, developments and innovations in the airport sector through 23 sessions, including presentations and panel discussions. More than 45 CEOs from major airports around the world will explore the industry’s readiness in innovation, artificial intelligence and the latest technologies and innovations designed to improve the travel experience and operational practices in the sector airport.
In addition, 14 international organizations will present their latest products dedicated to airports during the exhibition which will be held alongside the conference. Local technology startups will also participate in the exhibition to showcase their innovations in the field of aviation and airports. The conference agenda will include an invitation to the three leading emerging organizations, who won the AeroHack Oman competition, held in the last quarter of this year, to present their winning innovations to this large number of decision-makers in the airport sector.
Several major global companies will participate in this important event, including Google, Amazon, Airbus, Idemia, Huawei, Nokia, Cisco, Moody’s Credit Rating Agency, IATA, Deloitte, TAV, SISTA, Gulf Air, JC Decaux, International Hong Kong Aviation . Academy, César and Dutch InterVistas. Additionally, Airports Council International’s three regional offices are collaborating with Oman Airports to manage the content of this conference and the accompanying exhibition.
In his speech at the conference, Sheikh Aimen bin Ahmed Al Hosni, CEO of Oman Airports and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Airports Council International, welcomed guests from the Sultanate of Oman, who are meeting in Muscat coinciding with the celebrations marking Oman’s 53rd National Day and the renewed Renaissance under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik (may Allah protect him).
The CEO of Oman Airports added: “Undoubtedly, the challenges faced by service and logistics organizations around the world during the period of the “COVID-19” pandemic have presented the opportunity to seek innovations and solutions. sectors. »
“Our colleagues, leaders of airports around the world, helped consolidate a culture of innovation as one of the work strategies, through which everyone sought to create a dynamic environment in line with rapid technological progress, especially with the advent of artificial intelligence,” he said. added.
Today, we are proud and honored to host this important event in our beautiful ancient city of Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman, which has been and will continue to be an important regional and international logistics hub. We are honored that airport managers from the Asia Pacific, Middle East, Europe and America are coming here to think outside the box and create an integrated work environment that aspires to a bright future for the sector global aerospace company, which places sustainability and automation at the top of its priorities for the benefit of the sector.
The CEO of Oman Airports and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Airports Council International added: “Innovation has become a reality and a fundamental necessity, especially in the field of airports and travel. Our competitiveness drives us to work to improve the travel experience for millions of people. passengers who trust our capabilities as the region’s airport management entities.
“This gathering, attended by industry leaders and innovative thinkers, symbolizes our shared commitment to lead in a new era of innovative solutions, cutting-edge technologies and cooperative strategies that will shape the future of the world’s airports entire. This event will also explore new ideas to strengthen common bonds,” concluded Al-Hosni.
Meanwhile, the Director of the General Airports Council International, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, said: “It is truly a great honor to open the first event for airport innovation, jointly organized by Airports Council International – ACI Asia Pacific, Middle East, ACI. Europe, ACI World and hosted by Oman Airport Management Company.
We gather here in the culturally rich city of Muscat to celebrate innovation in aviation and reiterate our collective commitment to shaping the future of airports and air transport.
It is a platform that hosts a rich stock of innovative ideas covering all regions of the world and cross-cutting areas.
Passengers and the communities we serve are at the heart of our discussions.
For his part, ACI Asia-Pacific and Middle East President Emmanuel Menanteau said: “We are happy to meet in Muscat, known for its breathtaking beauty and rich cultural heritage.” He added that we come together to celebrate the innovative spirit of our industry.
He emphasized that the aviation industry has always been at the forefront of innovation. It continually strives to improve efficiency and improve the travel experience in order to stay at the forefront of development. He said the conference aims to explore the potential for innovation in all aspects of airport operations.
Airports are always looking to explore innovation and adopt sustainable practices as they recognize the urgent need for more innovation in the sector. Our conference serves as a platform for game changers, innovators, startups, business leaders and top tech minds. It also provides a platform for the presentation of concepts and solutions, aimed at driving innovation that can shape the future of airports.
For his part, Stefano Baronci, Director General of ACI Asia Pacific and Middle East, said that the World Airports Conference, which will be held in Muscat, is a unique event because we celebrate the spirit of innovation in the airport industry before the end of the year. the year. He noted that airports are seeking to adopt new procedures, approaches and technologies in an era of continued innovation to increase efficiency, improve passenger experience and drive economic growth.
He added that this event aims to highlight the importance of innovation in airport operations. It also aims to drive the continued development of the airport sector by bringing together top experts, innovators and business leaders from around the world to exchange ideas, discuss best practices and inspire each other. It also aims to focus on celebrating the latest practices. We can, through round tables and dialogue sessions, gain insight into the strategies that have led to successful innovations.
The first day of the conference includes 12 sessions, including presentations and discussions on the readiness of innovation leaders, with the participation of CEOs of Turkey, Milan and Vinci Airports, a company that manages leading airports in the United States, Europe and Asia. Another session will discuss the importance of innovation and the future of airports, with representatives from Google, Amazon, Cisco and Edimea. Another session will discuss the use of artificial intelligence to improve the travel experience at airports. One of the most notable presentations will be from Italian designer Focaccia, known for his designs in projects such as NEOM in Saudi Arabia and the Conference Center in Rome, Italy, as well as designer of several airports around the world.
Day 2 includes 11 sessions with presentations and discussion sessions. A notable session is titled “Branding and Innovation”, with the participation of Dr Youssef Al Balushi, former lecturer at the University of Oxford and consultant at the University of Oxford Innovation Centre, alongside from the CEO of Oj for Innovation, a leading local company. in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship.
In addition, one of the sessions will discuss the role of innovation centers in airports, with the participation of airport CEOs from Rome and India, with the participation of representatives from the Sultanate of Oman. The session will also include one of the leading companies driving innovation and software in Silicon Valley, the global technology hub. The conference will also include a panel discussion on the future of aviation workers in the age of artificial intelligence.
Another session on the second day will cover the topics of environmental sustainability, clean energy, the virtual world and electric aircraft. There will also be presentations that will include the exchange of experiences and data between airports in various areas of innovation.
On the sidelines of the Airport Innovate conference and exhibition, several agreements will be signed, including a memorandum of understanding in the field of innovation with Frankfurt Airport in Germany and another memorandum of understanding with Rome Airport .
His Excellency Engineer Said bin Hamoud Al Ma’wali,
Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology,
and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oman Airports
