Preliminary Programme
Please keep in mind that the clock will move back one hour on Thursday, October 29, at 12.00 midnight.
| Day 1 Decarbonizing Airports: From Operations to Infrastructure Thursday, 29 October 2026 | |
Welcome and Introduction 09:00 – 09:40 This opening keynote welcomes participants and sets the overarching vision for the Seminar. | |
Setting the Scene for the Seminar 09:40 – 10:15 | |
| Networking Coffee Break 10:15 – 10:45 | |
Session 1 – Airports in a Changing World: Infrastructure Trends and Strategic Responses 10:45 – 11:30 This session provides the current state of airports, airlines, and airport infrastructure worldwide and their strategic responses to the evolving global context, including implications for environmental initiatives and cleaner energy transition efforts.
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Session 2 – Operational Measures to Reduce Aircraft Emissions 11:30 – 12:30 Session 2 covers airport enabled operational and infrastructure measures for reducing aviation emissions. It will focus on scalable actions, including digital and AI tools and on transparent monitoring of fuel burn and CO₂ savings relevant to the Long-Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) and State Action Plans.
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| Lunch Break 12:30 – 13:45 | |
Session 3 – Decarbonizing Airport Operations and Energy Systems 13:45 – 14:40 This session focuses on measures to reduce airports’ own operational emissions, highlighting how airports are decarbonizing their energy use and preparing for increased energy demand.
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Session 4 – Integrated Environmental Performance: Circularity, Noise, and Community Engagement 14:40 – 15:35 Session 4 will cover how airports can integrate multiple environmental objectives—including noise management, emissions reduction, biodiversity preservation and resource circularity—while maintaining community trust and acceptance. It also highlights the ICAO Balanced Approach for noise management, including the role of community engagement. Ultimately, this session will demonstrate how integrating technical environmental performance with proactive community engagement is the ultimate enabler for sustainable airport development.
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Special Dialogue: Sustainable Plastic Management in Aviation 15:35 – 16:00 This special dialogue discusses how aviation can contribute to sustainable plastic management through sector-specific circularity and plastics reduction practices across airports and airlines. Discussions will also consider evolving global policy developments, including the UN plastics treaty negotiations, as well as insights from other sectors implementing circular economy approaches to plastic use. Video message from Daniela Stange - Manager, Sustainability - IATA, and Denise Pronk - Head of Sustainability - Royal Schiphol Group as Task Co-Leads, CAEP Working Group 2 on Sustainable Plastics Management in Aviation
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| Networking Coffee Break 16:00 – 16:30 | |
Session 5 – Airports as Enablers of SAF, LCAF and Cleaner Energy 16:30 – 17:25 Session 5 addresses how airports are advancing aviation decarbonization through infrastructure and early-mover initiatives that support the deployment of SAF, LCAF, and other emerging energy solutions, helping reduce aircraft emissions. The session also showcases efforts to decarbonize airport operations and energy systems, lowering operational emissions while preparing for future energy demand through cleaner and more resilient energy use.
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Session 6 – Airport Infrastructure Readiness for New Technology and Future Operations 17:25 – 17:55 Session 6 will showcase how airports are preparing their infrastructure, equipment, and operations to support the next generation of aircraft and aviation technologies. The session will also explore initiatives including electrified and hydrogen-powered ground support equipment, new energy infrastructure, advanced air mobility, and airport readiness for alternative propulsion technologies. This will provide a forward-looking, solutions-driven perspective, highlighting practical demonstrations and early implementation.
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| Closing of Day 1 17:55 – 18:00 |
| Day 2 Climate Adaptation and Resilient Airports Friday, 30 October 2026 | |
Opening Session 09:00 – 09:30 | |
Setting the Scene by ICAO: Why Aviation Cannot Wait for Adaptation 09:30 – 09:50 Overview of the ICAO work on climate adaptation including recently published Climate Adaptation Synthesis Report, compiling the latest scientific knowledge, stakeholder insights and real-world examples of climate impacts and adaptation in aviation. | |
Session 7 – Understanding Climate Risks to Airport Operations and Infrastructure 09:50 – 11:00 Session 7 offers a climate science and meteorological perspective on how changing climate conditions are expected to affect aviation systems, with particular focus on airport infrastructure and operations. It will outline key climate stressors—such as extreme heat, flooding, wind, dust, and shifting precipitation patterns—and explain how these translate into operational risk, establishing a shared baseline for the adaptation planning discussed in later sessions.
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| Networking Coffee Break 11:00 – 11:30 | |
Session 8 – When Climate Hits: Airports, Airlines, ANSPs Facing Extreme Events — What Happened, What It Cost, and What Changed 11:30 – 12:20 Session 8 will present practical case studies from stakeholders that have experienced significant climate and weather-related disruptions. Speakers will share what happened on the ground, the operational and financial consequences, and the lessons learned that have influenced resilience planning and decision-making. The session will underscore the importance of preparedness and early action in reducing operational and economic consequences.
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| Lunch Break 12:20 – 13:40 | |
Session 9 – Climate Adaptation at Airports: Planning, Design and Capacity 13:40 – 14:40 Session 9 translates lessons from climate-related disruptions into practical adaptation action. It focuses on how aviation stakeholders can transform climate risk assessments into implementable adaptation plans, integrate resilience into infrastructure planning and design, and apply ICAO climate adaptation guidance in practice. The session also highlights priority capacity-building needs to support effective climate adaptation implementation.
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| Networking Coffee Break 14:40 – 15:10 | |
Session 10 – Enabling Implementation: Financing and Partnerships for Climate Resilient Airports 15:10 – 16:10 This session explores how States, airports, airlines, investors, financial institutions, and the wider stakeholders can work together to mobilize financing, strengthen partnerships, and build capacity to support the implementation of sustainable and climate resilient airport measures. It highlights the importance of aligning policy frameworks, investment approaches, and stakeholder collaboration to enable effective delivery under real-world conditions.
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Session 11 – The Way Forward and Closing of the Seminar 16:10 – 16:40 This concluding session will consolidate key messages from the Seminar and link discussions to ICAO’s ongoing and future work on airports and operations. ACI World Environment Standing Committee (WEnSC) - Reflections and Key Messages from Zurich (Video Message) |
Social event: An evening at the Pyramids Evening Complimentary transfers between The St. Regis Cairo and the gala venue will be provided. |