Conference Program


We are in the process of updating the website, inviting speakers and creating relevance and value for all attendees to the virtual conference.

An independent and unbiased conference platform

The conference is strongly supported by major airports, airlines and aviation authorities; it is independent and encourages a free and frank exchange of views and ideas. The knowledgeable environment of the conference will allow businesses to be associated with a quality program.



09:00 GMT (UK) - Passenger Experience and Confidence

Looking backward and forward: Covid-19 has intensified customers’ needs and digital expectations

Anette Schouls
Manager digital airport & recovery
Air France-KLM
Netherlands
Throughout 2020, urgent new customer needs have emerged overnight. At KLM Digital we needed to put all our agility into practice to respond to these needs. In this short video, we will clearly define several phases and categories in these customer needs. Furthermore, we will share examples of how digital products still help KLM to manage this situation. Agility, communication, collaboration, data analysis and customer feedback play the main part. What did we learn? What will be in store for us in 2021?

What the audience will learn

  • How Covid-19 changed passengers' online and offline behavior
  • New opportunities: digital products and services in managing Covid-19
  • Perspectives on standardization and international collaboration for documentation

Leading customer experience during the Covid-19 crisis

Hanna Hämäläinen
Head of passenger services and development
Helsinki Airport
Finland
Helsinki Airport, a leading airport in northern Europe, has been a leader in Covid-19 actions. We've followed all the aviation recommendations during the crisis, and also introduced innovative new solutions such as Covid-19 dogs, new technology and service models to ensure excellent customer experience for airlines and passengers. Together with highly skilled teams, we have enabled the airport facilities operations of Finland's authorities.

What the audience will learn

  • Leading all airport processes during the Covid-19 crisis
  • Covid-19 dogs – the first in Europe
  • New service models during changing global travel restrictions

Scaling a seamless end-to-end passenger journey

Jean-François Lennon
Vice president strategic sales and global partnerships
Vision-Box SA
Portugal
Now that Covid-19 has dramatically altered the travel industry landscape, it has become clearer than ever that biometrics will play a vital role in getting the world moving again. How can we work to ensure a seamless and safe end-to-end experience for passengers? How to reinstill passenger confidence in regard to health and safety when using an airport?

What the audience will learn

  • To what extent Covid-19 is affecting the passenger expectations of the future
  • The challenges behind implementing a touchless passenger experience
  • Is ‘seamless travel’ still the end goal for airports?

Staying close to customers during Covid-19

Kevin Cullinane
Head of communications
Cork Airport
Ireland
Cork Airport has seen a significant impact on passenger numbers and flights due to Covid-19, which has decimated aviation across the globe. As head of communications at Cork Airport in Ireland, Kevin Cullinane has witnessed first hand the serious reduction in passenger numbers, as well as flight cancellations and disruptions. Despite the current crisis, he believes passionately that communications objectives still need to follow business objectives without being tone-deaf to the unfolding crisis. In this presentation, he shares how Cork Airport has stayed close to its customers digitally and emotionally throughout the pandemic by staying relevant.

What the audience will learn

  • Leaders need to think differently in a crisis
  • Communications objectives still need to follow business objectives
  • Companies with communications issues probably aren't communicating effectively
  • Adapting social media strategy is a key pillar
  • Stay true to your brand promise

Meeting passenger needs in the midst of a pandemic

Sujata Kumar Suri
Vice president – strategy and development
Hamad International Airport
Qatar
The presentation will describe the various actions that DOH undertook to remain operational despite the pandemic, ensuring that the well-being of passengers remained at the heart of its strategy. Passenger and staff safety and security remain the top priority while deploying an operation recovery plan in line with multiple stakeholder requirements. New hygiene measures were introduced across the terminal to ensure passengers' confidence in safe travel is restored.

What the audience will learn

  • How the airport showed incredible nimbleness in adapting to the changed circumstances
  • How the airport co-created the ‘pandemic’ passenger experience with the national airline Qatar Airways
  • Lessons in effective passenger communication and community engagement
  • Unlocking the power of technology to rebuild travel trust with innovative travel experiences

Live Discussion + Q&A: Passenger experience and confidence

This panel will discuss the different approaches to building passenger confidence in the airport environment as a healthier place today than it's ever been. We will discuss how airports and airlines have made communication with passengers a vital part of the process, understood new passenger needs and continue to provide a smooth journey during difficult and changing times.
Anette Schouls
Manager digital airport & recovery
Air France-KLM
Netherlands
Hanna Hämäläinen
Head of passenger services and development
Helsinki Airport
Finland
Jean-François Lennon
Vice president strategic sales and global partnerships
Vision-Box SA
Portugal
Kevin Cullinane
Head of communications
Cork Airport
Ireland
Panel Moderator:
Sujata Kumar Suri
Vice president – strategy and development
Hamad International Airport
QATAR

11:00 GMT (UK) - The Conversation

The Conversation

This panel will be a conversation between airport representatives who work in the area of innovation. It will be a free-flowing conversation. How might this pandemic change the future of airports? What could change in the long term to provide safe traveling environments for passengers? How can hot spots be avoided? How to create an industry that can adapt quickly and be flexible if a threat such as this were to happen again? How could the whole operating model change?
Ben Wagenaar
Innovation architect
Heathrow Airport
UK
Claus Grunow
VP strategy & digital
Fraport AG
Germany
Gilles Brentini
Head of strategic innovation and projects
Genève Aéroport
Switzerland
Raphaël Frayssinet
Innovation project manager
Groupe ADP
France
Suresh Khadakbhavi
Assistant vice president - innovation lab
Bangalore International Airport
India
Panel Moderator:
Mats Berglind
Digital innovation manager
Swedavia AB
SWEDEN

14:00 GMT (UK) - Airports; Entry and Exit Points of our Cities and Communities

Design trends/responses from SOM's perspective that have been discussed at the WELL Airport Advisory

Martin Liepmann
Associate director
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
UK
From a currently reactive response to the pandemic situation we see a move toward proactive design measures. Some address the mind, body and human well-being, others the spaces we inhabit. Overlaying six pandemic design ideas with the work of the WELL Airport Advisory, we can create tools moving to a more resilient and prepared environment. How to enable free passage, anti-anxiety entries, breathable buildings and improved urban mobility are only a few of the topics related to airport architecture that we will discuss.

What the audience will learn

  • How architectural design can be a catalyst to move post-pandemic
  • The benefits of collaborating across sectors and learning from each other
  • How WELL certification can help airports to invest in healthy spaces

Practical measures that can be incorporated/improved on at existing airports in the area of health and hygiene

Dr Dawn Errede
Assistant manager, industrial hygiene
Metropolitan Airports Commission
USA
Clean and healthy airports are always important, but especially during a pandemic. Airports have installed plexiglass barriers, increased the frequency of cleaning throughout terminals, and placed signs reminding passengers to distance themselves and wear masks. Some airports increased fresh air delivery and air filtration, and installed sanitizing robots, all at a time when revenues from travel have plummeted. Which measures reduce health risks, and which are a ‘hygiene theater’?

What the audience will learn

  • The background of microbes in our world and typical daily exposures
  • The additional risk posed by the SARS-CoV2 virus
  • The best methods of reducing risks from SARS-CoV2

Importance of stakeholder communication via WELL certification

Ann Marie Aguilar
Senior vice president
IWBI
UK
By supporting awareness of health and wellness programs and policies, organizations can promote health literacy and encourage engagement with health resources, leading to individual benefits such as increased participation in healthy behaviors and use of health services, and also employer benefits, providing an estimated 4:1 return on investment. Establishing a health-centered mission and orienting stakeholders as to how the organization will adhere to that mission and WELL features through design and operations, helps individuals remain engaged in the space and empowers them to utilize all available health and wellness programs and policies.

What the audience will learn

  • How educational materials and communications can help promote health literacy and increase positive health outcomes
  • How to cultivate a culture of health by reinforcing programs, amenities and policies available to support health and safety, including regular communications, occupant education and health risk assessments
  • Support healthy behavior through signage that communicates important health safety actions and information

Staff health and well-being at airports

Antoine du Teilhet de Lamothe
Project director - global airport operations
Groupe ADP
France
As an airport operator, how can you fundamentally improve the health and well-being of staff, and what are the current efforts and evolving challenges?

What the audience will learn

  • As an airport operator, how can you fundamentally improve the health and well-being of staff, and what are the current efforts and evolving challenges?
  • The whole airport as a place where daily life has to be facilitated and animated
  • Covid crisis as an accelerator of sanitary solutions implementation at a global level

From a global perspective, what role can airports play in supporting a healthier and happier society?

Cristina Alcivar
Founder
Vane Airport Media Inc
Canada
The airport can play a supporting role in a healthier and happier society. For instance, changing dwell time to swell time. For passengers to have a more joyful airport experience, basic human needs must come first. Transforming the dreaded, discretionary spending-focused dwell time into swell time should be at the forefront of any airport’s post-pandemic transformation moving forward. Dwell time is about making money, not passenger happiness. Happy passengers are willing to spend more of their time and money in airports.

What the audience will learn

  • Current examples of global airport wellness touchpoints employed
  • How integrating wellness touchpoints will directly increase non-aeronautical revenues and improve human mood
  • Adopting a holistic airport well-being mindset in the age of Covid-19

Live Discussion + Q&A: Airports: entry and exit points of our cities and communities

The architecture of the airports can define the immune system response to our current crisis. How can existing airports use the impacts of the pandemic to reimagine the travel experience? Today we will explore the 10 themes of the WELL Building Standard’s v2 and understand how they map across SOM’s six pandemic design strategies. We aim to disrupt the negative impact of this global pandemic by sharing the imperative we are faced with today: investing in healthy spaces. Our panel discussion will involve the important themes of transparency, certification and continuous monitoring.

What the audience will learn

  • Trends/responses we have seen discussed at the WELL Airport Advisory
  • Practical measures that can be incorporated/improved on at existing airports in the areas of health and hygiene
  • Importance of stakeholder communication via WELL certification
  • How can we fundamentally improve the health and well-being of airport staff at airports?
  • What role can airports play in supporting a happier, healthier society?
Cristina Alcivar
Founder
Vane Airport Media Inc
Canada
Dr Dawn Errede
Assistant manager, industrial hygiene
Metropolitan Airports Commission
USA
Martin Liepmann
Associate director
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
UK
Antoine du Teilhet de Lamothe
Project director - global airport operations
Groupe ADP
France
Panel Moderator:
Ann Marie Aguilar
Senior vice president
IWBI
UK

14:00 GMT (UK) - Urban Air Mobility - 360 Degree View

UAM and city, regional and airport plans

Danielle Rinsler
Head of aviation policy
Uber Technologies
USA
City, regional and airport planners play a critical role in enabling urban air mobility (UAM) services. Traditionally, aviation planning has not been a principal consideration in urban and regional transportation planning processes. As electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and other emerging aviation technologies will enable new forms of mobility, it is essential that planning processes and municipal zoning codes address the integration of new types of aviation infrastructure and low-altitude operations. This presentation will consider a broad range of planning issues associated with UAM, from airspace integration to infrastructure planning and permitting, and related community engagement.

What the audience will learn

  • Some of the key areas for city, regional and airport planners to be thinking about as they consider UAM
  • The role of the federal/national aviation regulators in informing local and regional planning
  • Policy frameworks in development across the globe

Infrastructure for advanced aerial mobility – theory to reality

Duncan Walker
Founder and CEO
Skyports
UK
Advanced aerial mobility is getting closer. Without vertiports, there will be limited applications for this new technology. This presentation looks at how to navigate the timing and revenue uncertainties of a new industry with the large capital expenditure required for airport infrastructure.

What the audience will learn

  • Infrastructure is vital for the success of the AAM industry
  • Lack of defined revenue streams and large capex requirements are hard to reconcile

EVTOL and UAM operations for airports

Ralph Tamburro
Airport delay reduction and airspace modernization
Port Authority of NY/NJ
USA
The presentation will discuss the many areas of consideration for airports. Should the vertiport be landside or airside? Accommodating multiple types of aircraft with varying performance capabilities. Do we model it along with existing helicopter operations or a completely new ConOps? Infrastructure requirements – common use or exclusive use? Do we allow for multiple landing sites on one airport? Does the PA invest in the development or do we leave that to the operators? Ensuring UAM operation has no impact on the existing airport flows. What safety and electrical power infrastructures are required?

What the audience will learn

  • Airport infrastructure considerations: placement of vertiport on the airport
  • Airspace considerations: how will these aircraft be accommodated, especially in complex airspace. A-CDM is critical for successful implementation
  • Common use of exclusive-use vertiports
  • Terminal access for passengers. Do we utilize airside or landside portions of the airports?
  • Varying aircraft performance capabilities: range, vertical climb and speed

Urban air mobility: a case study of the Paris region

Sébastien Couturier
Head of innovation
Groupe ADP
France
In the current context of environmental transition in air transport and economic recovery, the Paris region, Groupe ADP and RATP Group are developing a unique urban air mobility initiative with a focus on electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL). The partners have decided to bring together all the conditions to make the emergence of this new mode of transport possible. The prospect of the 2024 Olympic Games provides an exceptional opportunity to involve an entire industry in order to make the Paris region a leader in the global urban air mobility market.

What the audience will learn

  • How to create/animate an ecosystem of stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of this new mobility service
  • The five key challenges to orchestrate and develop the urban air mobility (UAM) roadmap
  • Why a UAM living lab is fundamental and what should be tested
  • What this new service will look like from a passenger perspective
  • Key insights into the future business model of a vertiport

Live Discussion + Q&A: Urban air mobility – 360º view

EVTOL and UAM have become buzzwords for future aviation enthusiasts. However, there is very little understanding of the overall challenges associated with developing reliable vehicle technology as well as ground infrastructure and regulatory policies. This is a panel of experts who are already working on these elements and will provide a 360º view of what to expect in the next decade.

What the audience will learn

  • Urban Air Mobility Global perspective
  • Technology and infrastructure challenges
  • Regulatory policies that could help or hurt the industry
  • Airport Authority, Operator and Developer perspectives
Danielle Rinsler
Head of aviation policy
Uber Technologies
USA
Duncan Walker
Founder and CEO
Skyports
UK
Ralph Tamburro
Airport delay reduction and airspace modernization
Port Authority of NY/NJ
USA
Sébastien Couturier
Head of innovation
Groupe ADP
France
Panel Moderators:
Joël Couillandeau
Managing director of operations
Merchant Aviation, Groupe ADP
USA
Kiran Merchant
CEO
Merchant Aviation
USA

16:00 GMT (UK) - Security, Safety & Covid-19 – Beating the Bugs

Training, human factors and security culture in a Covid world

Nina Smith
Head of aviation security training and human factors
Civil Aviation Authority
UK
The challenges Covid has brought to the sector in 2020 are unprecedented and many entities have undergone a significant reduction in operations and associated restructuring this year, while facing an uncertain future. In the new world of Covid, one challenge is not to underestimate the impact on our workforce and their capability, from both internal and external pressures. The presentation will consider the impact of skill fade on security staff, the risk of losing experienced staff from the sector, as well as the link between training, human factors and security culture.

What the audience will learn

  • The importance of not disregarding human factors in aviation security during times of crisis
  • What is skill fade and how to mitigate its impact
  • Why a robust security culture is more critical now than ever

The Covid-19 pandemic measures at Copenhagen Airport

Johnnie Müller
Senior vice president, security services and crisis response
Copenhagen Airports
Denmark
The presentation will outline the Covid-19 measures at Copenhagen Airport and the impact of the pandemic on the airport’s operations. This will include the security and safety operation, from lockdown to resuming operations, and adjusting for the future: a smaller airport.

What the audience will learn

  • Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020
  • Resuming operations after lockdown
  • Safe passenger journey measures at Copenhagen Airport
  • Security challenges in view of the Covid-19 pandemic
  • How to motivate staff – both managers and employees – in a time of uncertainty

Covid-19 through an aviation security lens

Patrick Bertsch
Director, aviation security
American Airlines
USA
Covid-19 has brought unprecedented challenges to the aviation industry as a whole and has driven a reimagining of the role of airline security departments. This session will discuss how aviation security teams had to pivot in their approach to managing risk and supporting operations in light of the changes brought about by the pandemic.

What the audience will learn

  • How airports and airlines are dealing with the impact of the pandemic
  • Sustainable security, safety and training
  • Lessons being learned and where the industry may be heading

Counterterrorism – sustaining readiness during the Covid-19 pandemic

Steven Rotolo
Chief of counter-terrorism
The Port Authority of NY & NJ Police Department
USA
The Covid-19 pandemic has posed many challenges for the health and safety of the public and our members of service. Decisive action and the ability to make swift changes have allowed us to maintain a high level of readiness in keeping the public and our facilities safe.

What the audience will learn

  • Gain an understanding of the procedural implementations/modifications made throughout the Port Authority Police Department
  • Port Authority Police Covid-19 Task Force initiative and tasks performed
  • Receive an overview of the interagency law enforcement collaboration during the Covid-19 pandemic
  • Maintaining counterterrorism presence during the Covid-19 pandemic

Live Discussion + Q&A: Security, safety and Covid-19 – beating the bugs

The primary focus of this discussion will be training for aviation security and operations, and safety for passengers and employees in these changing Covid-19 times. It will include the impact of the pandemic on aviation security operations and staffing, measures put in place at checkpoints and throughout the terminal, and maintaining recurrent training priorities as protection protocols continue to evolve in the future.
Johnnie Müller
Senior vice president, security services and crisis response
Copenhagen Airports
Denmark
Nina Smith
Head of aviation security training and human factors
Civil Aviation Authority
UK
Patrick Bertsch
Director, aviation security
American Airlines
USA
Steven Rotolo
Chief of counter-terrorism
The Port Authority of NY & NJ Police Department
USA
Panel Moderators:
Art Kosatka
CEO
TranSecure
USA
Neville Hay
Director of training
Interportpolice
UK

16:00 GMT (UK) - Facilities, Health & Safety in Today's World

Covid-19 protection measures at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Mike Tasker
Senior manager facilities and infrastructure
Port of Seattle
USA
This presentation will focus on global best practices related to Covid-19 at airport facilities, and a case study of how the Seattle airport is managing facilities during this pandemic. A major focus will be a discussion of practical and proven implementation issues for Covid-19 compared with theoretical sales pitches. Topics will include touchless technologies, HVAC, UVC light cleaning, sanitation stations, cleaning frequencies for restrooms and other terminal areas, Covid cleaning certification, signage, concessions, social distancing, Covid-19 testing at the airport, restoring passenger confidence, and risk-based decision making with limited financial resources.

What the audience will learn

  • Discussion of practical and proven implementation issues for Covid-19 compared with theoretical sales pitches
  • Risk-based decision making for airports with limited financial resources
  • ASHRAE recommendations for HVAC mechanical systems and high-efficiency filtration
  • Exciting trends for touchless travel and social distancing through queue management
  • Strategies for restoring passenger confidence and airports as a model for best practices in health safety

The strength of implementing ISO 55001 – managing risk and assets during uncertain times

Gary Merrow
Vice president facilities
Atlanta Airlines Terminal Company
USA
Having ISO 55001 in place better prepares you to make knowledge-driven decisions that meet health needs and resiliency efforts, and drive staffing during uncertain times. Atlanta Airlines Terminal Corporation’s vice president of facilities will provide an overview of the company's ISO journey and demonstrate how its tools drove a quicker staffing response to the pandemic. Critical system response strategies saved millions of dollars in the first six months by leveraging in-depth knowledge of HVAC and vertical transportation, and helped provide executive leadership with energy optimization strategies. Ongoing efforts will make H-JAIA a safer and more efficient operating airport as the recovery continues.

What the audience will learn

  • Overview of ISO 55001 tools to help manage risks
  • How tools drove AATC staffing levels on-site, preventing the spread of Covid-19 while maintaining a high service level
  • HVAC and energy optimization strategies – saving US$6.3m on energy in six months
  • System upgrade recommendations: HVAC to vertical transportation – providing capital planning numbers and language for now and the future

EIA’s innovative safety-first approach to the impacts of Covid-19

Steve Maybee
Vice president, operations and infrastructure
Edmonton International Airport
Canada
Steve will discuss the crippling impacts of Covid-19 on Edmonton International Airport (EIA) and the entire aviation industry. Safety will always be EIA's top priority for passengers and employees, and in this presentation Steve will detail safety measures put in place while also remaining flexible and adjusting in real time. With every challenge comes opportunity, and EIA has continued along its innovative path, pivoting its approach to address the impacts of Covid-19 through rapid testing solutions and touchless technologies.

What the audience will learn

  • Passenger confidence is crucial. Understanding passengers' needs and concerns related to health safety helps to restore air service
  • Implementing health measures such as mandatory face masks and physical distance floor markers helps to create a safe airport experience
  • The ability to pivot and remain flexible in airport operations is key
  • Alignment with stakeholders and partners creates a consistent experience for passengers
  • We all want travel to get back to normal – a rapid testing solution will help us get there safely

Traffic management and airport operations at Kansas City during Covid-19

Ian Redhead
Deputy director of aviation
Kansas City Missouri Aviation Department
USA
This presentation will focus on management of operations during Covid-19. Key issues will include operating on the airport with closed terminals and gates, designated access routes to parked aircraft for required maintenance, transitioning back to 'normal' operations, maintaining FAA certification during Covid-19 for airfield checks and required maintenance, traffic updates and safety measures inside the terminal. The presentation will also highlight exciting plans for a new 39-gate terminal and 6,300-space parking garage that will replace existing Terminals A, B and C.

What the audience will learn

  • Safety measures inside the terminal
  • Passenger traffic update
  • Transitioning back to “normal” operations during COVID-19
  • Maintaining FAA certification during COVID-19 for certification and inspection
  • Plans for a new 39-gate terminal that will replace existing Terminals A, B, and C

Live Discussion + Q&A: Facilities, health and safety in today's world

At the heart of this panel discussion will be the people who deal with facilities for passengers and staff at airports during 'normal' times and who have risen to the unprecedented challenge of Covid: safety, loss of passenger traffic, loss of revenue and loss of passenger confidence, which must be restored if the aviation industry is to recover. We will provide dynamic perspectives from seasoned aviation experts on what and how they have had to adapt their airport facilities during the pandemic, and which measures will need to stay in place in the future.
Ian Redhead
Deputy director of aviation
Kansas City Missouri Aviation Department
USA
Gary Merrow
Vice president facilities
Atlanta Airlines Terminal Company
USA
Steve Maybee
Vice president, operations and infrastructure
Edmonton International Airport
Canada
Panel Moderators:
Mike Tasker
Senior manager facilities and infrastructure
Port of Seattle
USA
David Tomber
Director of strategic consulting
Woolpert
USA
Please note: this conference program may be subject to change

For information about Passenger Terminal CONFERENCE 2021 Virtual ‘LIVE’ please contact Janine McEvilly, conference director, Passenger Terminal CONFERENCE at janine.mcevilly@ukimediaevents.com