Smart Ramp & Baggage Innovation Summit at APEX FTE EMEA 2026
Advancing autonomous aircraft turnaround and baggage handling innovation
The transformation of ramp and baggage operations is where the next major revolution in air transport will take place. As pressures around efficiency, resilience, safety, sustainability and workforce wellbeing intensify, the need for smarter, more autonomous approaches to aircraft turnaround and baggage handling has never been greater.
The Smart Ramp & Baggage Innovation Summit at APEX FTE EMEA 2026 provides a focused platform within the wider event agenda dedicated to supporting this industry-wide shift. The track brings together airlines, airports, ground handlers, manufacturers and solution providers around a shared goal: creating safer, smarter and more efficient ramp and baggage operations through innovation, automation and cross-industry collaboration.
Taking place as part of APEX FTE EMEA & Ancillary & Retailing in Dublin on 9-11 June 2026, the track is designed to support organisations at every stage of their modernisation journey. While much of the early progress in this space has been driven by major airlines and hub airports, the programme is built to be highly relevant for Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 airlines and airports, and the partners supporting them, as they look to translate ambition into practical, scalable change on the apron.
Our origins
The Smart Ramp & Baggage Innovation Summit builds on a strong foundation of Future Travel Experience-led collaboration and real-world innovation. It draws directly from the momentum created through the FTE Accelerating Collaboration & Engagement (ACE) platform and the FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group (BIWG), which unites more than 130 airlines, airports and supply-chain partners to drive measurable progress through proofs of concept and collaborative deployment.
It also reflects the evolution of the BOOST programme, a global coalition launched during FTE EMEA 2024 in Dublin, dedicated to accelerating baggage innovation and improving working conditions through the rapid adoption of advanced technologies. In parallel, the Smart Ramp initiative, launched in 2024 under ACE, has focused on advancing autonomous and more efficient aircraft turnaround through collaboration and live testing with leading global partners across areas such as autonomous vehicles, AI-enabled turnaround management, remote-controlled boarding bridges, and automated FOD detection and removal.
These initiatives now come together within the Smart Ramp & Baggage Innovation Summit in Dublin, creating a powerful forum to showcase progress, share practical insights, and set the direction for the next phase of global ramp and baggage transformation.
APEX FTE EMEA 2026 Registration
Join us in Dublin for the industry’s most forward-thinking APEX EMEA show.
Register NowVital Event Information
APEX FTE EMEA 2026 will be the region’s most forward-thinking passenger experience and ancillary-focused event. The show will bring together the most progressive airlines, airports, vendors, startups, and other stakeholders to learn, collaborate and be inspired on how to transform commercial and operational performance through innovation, automation, AI, digital, partnerships and new business models.
- Event:
- APEX FTE EMEA 2026
- Date:
- – June 2026
- Location:
- RDS Dublin, Ireland