CVG Airport CEO discusses commitment to collaborative innovation across the airport-as-a-metropolis ecosystem

FTE Event News | On the Ground // Aug 2025

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – will have a strong presence on the exhibition floor at FTE Global, the “CES of Aviation” taking place in Long Beach, California, on 9 to 11 September 2025. At the expanded CVG Pavilion, the airport will showcase real deployments, live demos, and partner innovations. In this interview, Larry Krauter, CEO, CVG Airport, discusses the importance of a collaborative approach to transformation, CVG’s exciting plans for FTE Global, and much more.

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Larry Krauter, CEO, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG): “FTE attracts doers, not just dreamers. The event convenes a global network of industry leaders who are building the future, not waiting for it. We value the honest exchange, the energy of breakthrough thinking, and the chance to accelerate ideas from conversation to execution. This year, we’re especially excited to expand our partner showcase and deepen peer-to-peer learning across sectors.”

CVG returns to FTE Global because it delivers impact, not just inspiration. “Our goal is to showcase real deployments, foster meaningful conversations, and reinforce our commitment to collaborative innovation,” Krauter explains. “We’re expanding our footprint in 2025 to highlight not only what’s possible, but what’s already in progress and working.”

Attendees can expect an experience grounded in validation over vaporware. They will see tested technologies already deployed across CVG’s airport ecosystem, including artificial intelligence (AI)-powered operational tools, accessibility-forward solutions, and real-world applications of smart infrastructure.

“We’re proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a growing number of partner companies, doubling in partner presence,” says Krauter. “Pavilion visitors can expect a cross-section of infrastructure innovators and trusted aviation collaborators.”

CVG is proud to highlight these partners at its Pavilion in the FTE Global exhibition, with more to be announced soon:

Donovan Energy – powering sustainability through energy-efficient solutions.
Volan – real-time location intelligence and asset tracking.
InfoTap – gamified feedback systems that drive real engagement.
Hello Lamp Post – AI-powered conversational public engagement.
British Consulate General Chicago – The Department for Business and Trade is the UK’s department for economic growth and investment supporting UK-based businesses.

“Each brings a validated success story, made stronger through CVG’s commitment to real-world testing and scaling,” Krauter shares. To learn more about CVG’s program and dive deeper on its partners, click here.

The CVG Pavilion at FTE Global – the “CES of Aviation” taking place in Long Beach, California, on 9 to 11 September 2025 – will be your nonstop destination for innovation, where the airport will be activating live demos, peer discussions, and partner showcases throughout the event. CVG is proud to highlight several partners at its Pavilion, including Hello Lamp Post – AI-powered conversational public engagement.

FTE Global: “the chance to accelerate ideas from conversation to execution”

Collaboration is CVG’s catalyst. It doesn’t just pilot – it co-develops by embedding partners into an airport-as-a-metropolis ecosystem, offering a unique proving ground to validate, iterate, and scale innovations that can extend into hospitality, healthcare, sports venues, and beyond. This approach turns innovation from an isolated event into a shared, transformative journey.

“FTE attracts doers, not just dreamers,” says Krauter. “The event convenes a global network of industry leaders who are building the future, not waiting for it. We value the honest exchange, the energy of breakthrough thinking, and the chance to accelerate ideas from conversation to execution. This year, we’re especially excited to expand our partner showcase and deepen peer-to-peer learning across sectors.”

Visit the CVG Pavilion, your nonstop destination for innovation, where the airport will be activating live demos, peer discussions, and partner showcases throughout the event. “Conference attendees can also listen in on several presentations where we’ll dive deeper into what today’s advancements provide and where we’re facilitating a better future for our airport enterprise, our on-airport partners, and the scale of our economic impact,” Krauter adds. “Our message is simple: if you’re seeking collaborators who move fast, test realistically, and scale responsibly, we’re here for it. Let’s build what’s next, together.”

Hear more from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) at FTE Global – the “CES of Aviation” taking place in Long Beach, California, on 9 to 11 September 2025. Brian Cobb, Chief Innovation Officer, CVG Airport, is participating in ‘The FTE AI Symposium – Part 1: Case Studies on how organisations are putting AI to work across their businesses’. Cobb will deliver a joint presentation alongside Steve Cundy, Founder & CEO, Tuatara Consulting, and Tom Driscoll, Director – Service Delivery, Tuatara Consulting, titled ‘Listen in on how CVG is going CLEAR with scalable, AI-enabled software for critical limits evaluation and alternative routing to maximise strategic growth and minimise bottlenecks’. Meanwhile, Cobb is also participating in ‘The FTE Robotics & Autonomous Vehicles Symposium’. He will deliver a joint presentation with Miles Garner, Director of Sales and Marketing, Aurrigo, titled ‘Insights and recommended practices from CVG on planning and scaling autonomous vehicle use at airports (Mapping, Testing, Modelling, Simulation, Testing, Deployment, Scaling. Rinse and repeat)’.

View the full FTE Global 2025 schedule at a glance >> Register for FTE Global 2025 >>