Track 2 Premium Conference
Over the course of three days, Premium FTE Global registrants will have access to a rich array of conference content. This year's sessions will focus on how airlines and airports can adapt, collaborate, leverage digital platforms, create new business models, and reinvent the passenger experience, through our theme of "Collaborative Transformation". Many more speakers, sessions and conference tracks will be announced in the coming weeks, but below you can take in all the content from Stage 2 at the show.

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Tuesday 9th September 2025
APEX Thought Leadership Conference

If you are registered for FTE Global with a Premium Pass you will get access to the APEX Thought Leadership sessions taking place in the morning on Tuesday 9th September. PLUS all registrants for FTE Global get complimentary access to the APEX/IFSA Global EXPO exhibition hall and education stages.
Learn more about the benefits of this incredible co-location effort and how the co-location works in practice for participants at both shows, here >>


Mesfin Tasew
Group Chief Executive Officer
Ethiopian Airlines


Dina Ben Tal Ganancia
Chief Executive Officer
EL AL Israel Airlines


Campbell Wilson
Chief Executive Officer
Air India
More speakers to be announced soon
Lunch
FTE APEX IFSA EXPO Opens, VIP Tours & Showcases
FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group meeting

The FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group (BIWG) brings together the most innovative and progressive baggage supply chain companies, airlines, and airports from across the industry to provide a unique platform for cooperation and industry advancement. It is the platform for game-changing proof of concepts (POCs) & developing new techniques, technologies, and business models to deliver tangible change in the baggage sector.
Please contact us for more information Airlines can join the FTE BIWG for free
FTE World Ancillary & Retailing Working Group Meeting
The FTE World Ancillary & Retailing Working Group brings together all relevant industry stakeholders – including airlines, airports, and vendors – to collaborate on transforming retail and ancillary strategies across the sector. With hundreds of members already onboard, we firmly believe that by working collectively and leveraging technology, innovative approaches, and new business models, we can create a significantly larger revenue pie for everyone to share. This group serves as a powerful platform for exchanging ideas and accelerating industry progress. It’s free to join for airlines and airports, and this highly interactive meeting at FTE Global will help instigate group-wide discussions on best practices, offering a 360-degree view on implementing new visions, decision-making, and lessons learned by members.
The FTE Sprint Sessions

We will crowdsource problem statements for our sector, and in our Sprint Sessions taking place in a dedicated zone on the show floor, attendees with an interest in the topic can gather and participate in one of the three 20-minute Sprint Sessions to quickly brainstorm, and suggest potential solutions or approaches, that could address the challenge. The output will be shared with all attendees, and the industry at large, post-event.
- 13:20-13:40 – Topic 1: Tech and experiential strategies for enhancing accessibility
- 14:00-14:20 – Topic 2: Use cases for Agentic AI in aviation
- 14:40-15:00 – Topic 3: Strategies to achieve end-to-end CX personalisation
FTE Global Opening Keynote Session


Daniel Coleman
Founder & Chairman
Future Travel Experience


Dr. Joe Leader
Group CEO
APEX/IFSA/FTE
FTE Global Welcome Reception

Make the most of the vital networking opportunities provided at the FTE Global Welcome Reception, where delegates can enjoy demonstrations in the exhibition and network with their peers over drinks.
Wednesday 10th September 2025
Registration Open
Exhibition Hall Open
Collaborative & transformative approaches to reimagining CX


Daniel Coleman
Founder & Chairman
Future Travel Experience
Airport hospitality – the next level of guest experience


Eric Pateman
Vice President, Passenger Experience and Chief Experience Officer
Vancouver Airport Authority
Eric Pateman is globally known as an award-winning chef, entrepreneur, culinary tourism expert, and more. Two years ago, he transitioned from 25 years of entrepreneurial experience – spanning restaurant ownership, retail, food manufacturing, and running a top global consulting firm focused on culinary brand development and marketing – to bring his expertise to YVR. Over the past two years, since Eric Pateman took over as Chief Experience Officer (CXO), YVR has made significant changes to enhance the GX experience. These include new food and beverage (F&B) and retail offerings, a revamped curbside greeting program, and even training with one of the world’s top hospitality groups, so how has this provided guests with a better, more seamless journey from start to finish?
Interview – How is Qatar Airways now successfully blending technology with its hospitality approach and how will that likely evolve into the future?


Xia Cai
Senior Vice President of Product Development & Design
Qatar Airways
More speakers to be announced
Coffee Break on the exhibition floor
Tech & Innovation Briefing - Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Internet of Things (IoT)

The FTE AI Symposium – Part 1: Case studies on how organisations are putting AI to work across their businesses
What can the air transport industry learn from other sectors about effective AI implementation?


George Sammit
Staff Computer Scientist, Intelligent Systems
Southwest Research Institute
Crowdsourced Safety: What 4,400 Photos Can Teach AI (and us)


Jason Fogelman
Senior Director – Airport & Inflight Strategy & Ops Support
Spirit Airlines


Doug Kreuzkamp
Founder/CEO
Springshot


Mike Morin
VP of Business Development and Partnerships
webAI
How is British Airways harnessing AI and other leading-edge technology to boost operational performance at London Heathrow – Europe’s busiest airport – to record levels?


Tom Moran
Director of Heathrow
British Airways
More speakers to be announced soon
Lunch and networking on the exhibition floor with exclusive launches and unveilings
Tech & Innovation Briefing - Security, Digital Identity & Biometrics

The FTE AI Symposium – Part 2: A deep-dive into Agentic AI and the move towards Artificial General Intelligence
Each speaker gets 5 minutes to share how they are exploring Agentic AI, their perspectives on how it can redefine automation, and how transformational the ultimate move towards Artificial General Intelligence will be, before a fast-moving panel discussion.


Daniel Coleman
Founder & Chairman
Future Travel Experience


Sree Samudrala
Director of Artificial Intelligence & Automation
Southwest Airlines


Kushal Pasari
Director of GenAI & ML Engineering
United Airlines


Stanislaw Schmal
Director Digital & AI
Lufthansa Industry Solutions
More speakers to be announced soon.
Understanding the trends, and factors, that will impact customer journeys & future expansion strategies of airports and airlines
What are the changes coming in the near future such as new types of aircraft and technology, plus industry developments like walk through screening, no bags in customs, connection updates, or enhancements at the TSA checkpoint that would have a significant impact on the way airlines and airports should plan around when forging future strategies?
Following scene-setting from the moderator each presenter will talk for 5 minutes to share their views before a fast-moving panel discussion begins.


Nick Bartlett
Director, Lead for Financial Services & Insurance, and Transportation & Manufacturing
Future Today Institute
The technologist view


Jumbi Edulbehram
Global Business Development, Smart Cities and Spaces
NVIDIA
The aircraft manufacturer view


Paige Stanton Wilson
Chief Development Officer
Acubed by Airbus
The regulatory trends view


Anne Marie Pellerin
Founder and Managing Partner
LAM LHA
The airline perspective


Dana Shapir Alviene
Senior Vice President Inflight & Airport Experience
Spirit Airlines
The airport perspective


Jérôme Michaud
Innovation Manager
Geneva Airport
( speaker Invited)Tech & Innovation Briefing - Accessibility - Autonomous wheelchairs & other exciting new technology & services to improve accessibility for all

Networking on the exhibition floor
Deep-dive digital transformation case studies: Tangible business cases of implementing digitisation strategies in various tech fields, with emphasis on data-driven insights and transparency regarding faced challenges


Ross Falconer
Head of Content
Future Travel Experience
Hamad International Airport has begun its journey to be the world’s best digital-first airport, so what does the digital transformation strategy look like, and what is the roadmap to its execution?


Art Martinson
VP Business Technology
Hamad International Airport
How has Schiphol achieved a breakthrough using digital solutions to manage airside activities and passenger flows, that has enabled them to optimise decision making and reduce peak loads by 20%?


Martijn van Boven
Product Owner
Schiphol Amsterdam Airport


Mohamed Talbi
Product Manager
Schiphol Amsterdam Airport
More speakers to be announced
FTE Global Networking Party (featuring the FTE Global Awards Ceremony)

This year’s FTE Global Networking Party will take place at the Hotel Maya – a full-scale Latin American-inspired resort with a distinctive Southern California combination of spectacular, oceanfront views amidst 14 acres of lush, tropical gardens dotted with 500 palm trees in a modern, open-air setting. The event will be this year’s premier industry networking event, providing a perfect opportunity to unwind and network with fellow attendees in a relaxed environment.
It will also provide the perfect location for the industry-leading FTE Global Pioneer Awards ceremony sponsored by, which will recognise the world’s most pioneering airports and airlines with innovation projects prevalent across their entire organisations. Three airports and three airlines will be highly commended, while three more airports and airlines will receive FTE Global Pioneer Awards trophies. As part of the evening we will also recognise outstanding achievements among our FTE Americas Digital Transformation Power List nominees.
Sponsored by:
Thursday 11th September 2025
Morning Keynote
How do we leverage technology, innovation and new approaches to create Smart Ramp operations around the world and create holistic solutions to cover airline/airport/handler needs?
Following brief scene-setting presentations the session will move to a panel discussion that enables a range of stakeholders to share views relating to the merits, concerns, learnings and best approaches to establishing more intelligent operations to the ramp and below the wing operations.
Latest findings from the FTE/nlmtd ACE Smart Ramp effort


Manuel van Lijf
Director Aviation Innovation
nlmtd
What is the in-depth story behind Alaksa Airlines becoming the first airline to automate dispatch on the ramp with AI?


Gus Naughton
Principal Software Engineer – Innovation
Alaska Airlines


Kellen Schroeter
CEO & Co-Founder
Pattern Labs


Harvey Tate
Senior Manager - Airport Automation
International Airlines Group (IAG)


Dan Cohen-Nir
Sustainability Compliance Officer - Sustainability, Strategy & Transformation
Airbus Americas


Tim Toerber
President – Americas
Assaia
More speakers to be announced soon
Networking Break on exhibition floor
Tech & Innovation Briefing - Self-Service & Automation

Exciting Session to be announced
Lunch and networking on the exhibition floor with exclusive launches and unveilings
Tech & Innovation Briefing - Robotics & Autonomous Vehicles

Post-lunch Keynote


Brian Sumers
Editor
The Airline Observer
Brian Sumers, an expert on the global airline industry, is editor of The Airline Observer, a newsletter covering the business of airlines, and a co-host of The Air Show, a podcast covering the business of the sky. Previously, Brian led aviation coverage for Skift, and was a regular contributor to Conde Nast Traveler and Aviation Week.
United Above & Beyond: Building the World’s Leading Airline from the Inside Out
In a powerful finale keynote conversation, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby will share United’s ambitious mission to become the best airline in the world. From becoming the first major U.S. airline to offer free high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi to as of this year leading the world in IFE seat-back screens, United drives to set the highest standard for passenger experience. Kirby will offer an inside look at the strategy forging this incredible transformation, including the cultural and operational shifts that are rapidly accelerating the airline’s progress. This session will highlight how United’s investments in people, product, technology, and innovation will reshape the future of aviation from the inside out.
How do we now revolutionise the gate and boarding experience, and other key airport pinch-points?
Following a scene setting presentation from the moderator the session will become a fast-moving panel discussion.


Samuel Ingalls
Principal
Barich, Inc


Gus Naughton
Principal Software Engineer – Innovation
Alaska Airlines


Andrew Tan
VP Airport Development
Air India


Kevin Kleist
Head of Emerging Trends
Southwest Airlines
More speakers to be announced soon
FTE Global Closing Party (featuring the FTE Americas Innovate Awards Ceremony)

Make the most of the vital networking opportunities provided at the FTE Global Closing Party, which provides a final opportunity to spend some quality time on the show floor with a fun social twist thanks to our exhibitors who will be hosting drinks receptions, prize draw giveaways and unveilings. The FTE Global Closing Party will also provide the perfect location to reveal the winners of the FTE Americas Innovate Awards. During the previous two days audience members will have heard from industry stakeholders, each pitching on stage in an effort to impress our judges and their fellow aviation colleagues. Join us as we see the region’s largest and most respected innovation competition come to a close. The all-important audience votes will be tallied, and we will announce and celebrate the FTE Americas Innovate Awards winners.
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Exhibit your product or service. Contact our team to discuss the opportunities available:
Why attend FTE Global?
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Vital Event Information
Future Travel Experience Global 2025 is a global forum that brings together airlines, airports, government agencies, vendors, start-ups, terminal designers, architects, ground handlers, destination partners and various other travel industry stakeholders to learn, collaborate and be inspired on their next moves to transform their organisations’ passenger experience, business performance & sustainability strategies.
- Event
- Future Travel Experience Global 2025
- Date
- to September 2025
- Location
- Long Beach Convention Center, California, United States
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