- The World Aviation Festival 2026 took place at Feira Internacional de Lisboa
- Over 4,500 attendees and 600 speakers participated
- Aircraft turnarounds averaged 11.1 minutes over schedule in Q1 2026
- Turkish Airlines showcased Turnaround AI using apron cameras
- TAP Air Portugal noted 30pc of contact centre calls are basic inquiries
The World Aviation Festival 2026 took place at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa in Lisbon bringing together over 4,500 attendees and 600 speakers. The event focused on artificial intelligence operational efficiency and passenger experience.
Research from Assaia found that aircraft turnarounds in North America and Europe averaged 11.1 minutes over schedule in Q1 2026. Turkish Airlines showcased Turnaround AI using apron cameras to track and match ground activities in real time. Autonomous fleet and robotics companies highlighted how airside flows are scaling up at major hubs.
Carriers including Pegasus Airlines are investing in voice AI platforms to resolve multi-lingual passenger requests. TAP Air Portugal noted that nearly 30pc of pre-flight contact centre calls are basic inquiries prompting a push toward automated post-booking info updates. Raven’s Customer Growth Index revealed that digital assistants for 85 out of 101 surveyed airlines linked more frequently to online travel agencies than to the airline’s direct platform.
