APEX FTE Ancillary & Retailing Conference

The Smart Ramp initiative, launched in partnership between FTE and innovation consultancy nlmtd, has the ultimate goal that aircraft turnaround can be achieved autonomously and more efficiently. Munich Airport, Lufthansa, Schiphol Group, KLM and Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) are all members of what is a truly global collaborative innovation initiative. Rapid progress has been made since the launch of Smart Ramp and in Dublin, members will meet to share current progress and learnings from the innovation challenges already planned including some 20 projects across eight airports in 2025.

This meeting is open exclusively to members of FTE Smart Ramp

In this members-only FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub meeting, our Corporate Partners can expect keynotes, interactive discussions, and quick-fire pitches from a selection of pioneering startups, plus plenty of opportunities to network with fellow innovators. The FTE Hub is a truly unique community, designed specifically for the individuals and organisations who are at the forefront of digital transformation and innovation in the aviation industry. Members openly share expertise, experiences and inspiration year-round through curated virtual and in-person meet-ups.

This meeting is open exclusively to Corporate Partners of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub.

Hosted by

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 developing new techniques, technologies, and business models to deliver tangible change in the baggage sector. There are over 130 BIWG members, all playing an active role in the industry’s leading learning and networking platform for those serious about baggage transformation.

This meeting is open exclusively to members of the FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group.

At FTE we pride ourselves on providing the very best in networking events; enabling our guests to unwind and connect with like-minded industry peers in a relaxed environment. To support this ambition, we have once again teamed up with passenger disruption experts Plan3, to invite attendees to join them on Tuesday 9 June for a City of Dublin walking tour.

Brought to you by passenger disruption experts:

Kick off the conference in style at our official Ice Breaker at House Dublin. This relaxed and vibrant evening offers your first opportunity to connect with fellow delegates while enjoying great food, fabulous drinks, and live music in a venue that blends boutique charm with energetic city flair.

Whether you’re keen to immerse yourself in Dublin’s culture, reconnect with industry peers, or simply unwind after travelling, this is the perfect way to start the event on a high note.

Join us for the FTE World Ancillary & Retailing Working Group meeting – an intimate breakfast and discussion session designed exclusively for members of the community. Bringing together a collective of relevant industry stakeholders, including airlines, the Working Group provides a collaborative forum to exchange ideas, insights, and strategies shaping the future of airline retailing and ancillary revenue. Together, we believe that by working collaboratively as a sector and leveraging technology, innovative approaches, and new business models, we can unlock a significantly larger revenue opportunity for the entire industry.

This meeting is open exclusively to members of the FTE World Ancillary & Retailing Working Group.

In this high-level session, a leading airline and airport will share how they are embracing technology, innovation and strategic partnerships to significantly boost commercial performance.

Now in their fourth edition, the FTE Innovate Awards are once again at the epicentre of the APEX FTE EMEA event. Building on the momentum of previous years, the Awards have been expanded to welcome participation from across the global aviation ecosystem, reflecting the international relevance of the initiatives being showcased and the growing global array of participants that the APEX FTE EMEA event attracts year-on-year.

During this session, the finalists in the ‘Best New Transformative Concept’ category will pitch on stage as they vie to secure the audience members’ votes. The winners will be announced during the FTE Innovate Awards presentation ceremony on Thursday 11 June.

Finalists:

The APEX FTE EMEA and Ancillary & Retailing Startup Pitch Session will provide a platform for high-potential startups to showcase their products and services that have been developed to enhance the customer experience, operational efficiency and commercial performance.

Discover some of the inspiring ways in which airlines and their partners are successfully pioneering new routes to generating revenue and transforming ancillaries into a core growth engine. In this case study-led session, you’ll gain actionable insights into modern revenue trends and the evolving role of AI and collaboration in driving world-class retailing excellence and passenger value.

In this engaging panel discussion, hear from leading airports plus retail and operations partners who will share their insights into how they have developed successful retail strategies that elevate the customer experience whilst also laying the foundations for non-aero growth.

A brand-new addition to the event, the FTE Marketplace Speed Networking sessions are designed to maximise your time in Dublin with high-impact, pre-arranged meetings. Taking place in a dedicated forum on the exhibition floor, this new format gives vendors the chance to connect with airlines and airports through a series of fast-paced 5-minute introductions – helping you spark new conversations, generate leads, and unlock new commercial and innovation opportunities. VIP access is available for qualifying exhibitors.

Make the most of the vital networking opportunities provided at the FTE Dublin Networking Reception, where delegates can enjoy demonstrations in the exhibition and network with their peers over drinks before our Awards ceremony.

It has been a time of real transformation across the industry, and we will honour and recognise those efforts in Dublin. 15 airlines and 15 airports will be shortlisted for the FTE World Ancillary & Retailing Awards 2026, with three in each category being honoured for outstanding achievement during the ceremony. We will also celebrate the members of the 2026 FTE EMEA Airline and Airport Power Lists.

Following this, the APEX ceremony will recognize APEX Best™ in Airline Awards from Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North America, and South America. Based on verified passenger feedback via TripIt® from Concur®, the 2026 Awards reflect ratings from over one million flights across 600+ airlines, covering key categories including seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverage, entertainment, and Wi-Fi.

The “Summer in Dublin” informal social event, kindly hosted by The Travel Massive Dublin Chapter, is the perfect opportunity to continue your conference networking and connect with the local travel community. The not-for-profit Travel Massive Dublin has been hosting free-to-attend social events, insightful interviews, educational panels, and generally supporting the travel industry in Ireland since October 2013. Location to be confirmed soon.

This exclusive keynote will separate the noise from the signal. It is based in 2040 and will run through future scenarios of how AI will impact airlines, airports and travellers. Learn from AI best practices from top airlines and beyond.

The FTE Agentic AI Day is a dedicated forum exploring how AI agents are set to reshape travel commerce. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of how consumer and business AI agents are expected to transform retailing, merchandising, and offer creation across the travel sector. The sessions will explore the implications for pricing strategies, data sharing, and commercial visibility in an increasingly AI-driven ecosystem, while also examining the technology and commercial foundations organisations need to begin preparing for this shift.

This panel session explores how airlines can leverage data-driven personalisation, creative partnerships, and emerging digital tools to identify high-growth ancillary revenue opportunities and unlock untapped opportunities.

Now in their fourth edition, the FTE Innovate Awards are once again at the epicentre of the APEX FTE EMEA event. Building on the momentum of previous years, the Awards have been expanded to welcome participation from across the global aviation ecosystem, reflecting the international relevance of the initiatives being showcased and the growing global array of participants that the APEX FTE EMEA event attracts year-on-year.

During this session, the finalists in the ‘Most Innovative Airport Initiative’ category will pitch on stage as they vie to secure the audience members’ votes. The winners will be announced during the FTE Innovate Awards presentation ceremony on Thursday 11 June.

Finalists:

A brand-new addition to the event, the FTE Marketplace Speed Networking sessions are designed to maximise your time in Dublin with high-impact, pre-arranged meetings. Taking place in a dedicated forum on the exhibition floor, this new format gives vendors the chance to connect with airlines and airports through a series of fast-paced 5-minute introductions – helping you spark new conversations, generate leads, and unlock new commercial and innovation opportunities. VIP access is available for qualifying exhibitors.

Hear about the latest developments from across the FTE Communities – the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub, FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group, and FTE World Ancillary & Retailing Working Group.

Now in their fourth edition, the FTE Innovate Awards are once again at the epicentre of the APEX FTE EMEA event. Building on the momentum of previous years, the Awards have been expanded to welcome participation from across the global aviation ecosystem, reflecting the international relevance of the initiatives being showcased and the growing global array of participants that the APEX FTE EMEA event attracts year-on-year.

During this session, the finalists in the ‘Most Innovative Airline Initiative’ category will pitch on stage as they vie to secure the audience members’ votes. The winners will be announced during the FTE Innovate Awards presentation ceremony on Thursday 11 June.

Finalists:

This hackathon-style Co-Creation Workshop will bring together a variety of stakeholders to work on an Agentic AI challenge set by the session moderator. Each table will discuss the topic at hand, share opinions and experiences, and agree three main takeaways, which will be shared with the entire group at the end of the session and all delegates as part of the post-event resources. The aim is to simulate how a traveller will use an AI agent to search for and book a trip.

We wrap up two days of learning, networking and inspiration by inviting all attendees to relax and enjoy a farewell drink and see who comes out top in the FTE Innovate Awards 2026. Over the past two days, attendees will have heard from a variety of industry stakeholders, each pitching on stage in an effort to win votes and be named an FTE Innovate Awards winner. Now the votes have been tallied, we will announce and celebrate the FTE Innovate Awards 2026 winners.