Over 4,500 global leaders are attending the World Aviation Festival 2025 at Feira Internacional de Lisboa.
Portugal’s Secretary of State for Infrastructure, Hugo Espírito Santo, revealed plans for a new Lisbon airport five times larger than the current hub and confirmed TAP’s partial privatisation.
Ryanair’s Eddie Wilson revealed the airline’s latest aircraft use 16pc less fuel, but limited and expensive SAF supply hinders industry progress.
TAP Air Portugal CEO Luís Rodrigues stressed airlines cannot achieve net zero without support, as they cannot produce SAF or replace short-haul flights with rail.
IAG CEO Luis Gallego noted misaligned incentives, with manufacturers lacking motivation to invest in efficient engines, delaying hydrogen aircraft beyond 2035.
The event featured 85 sessions on artificial intelligence, sustainability, digital transformation, cybersecurity, regulation, diversity, and loyalty programmes.
Discussions focused on AI’s role in operational efficiency, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for net-zero goals by 2050, and new technologies like DerbySoft’s Global Data Network and eSIM GO’s Breeze Global Travel Pass. Portugal’s Minister for Infrastructure, Miguel Pinto Luz, will speak at the event today. The event features 400 exhibitors and continues until 9 October.
Willie Walsh shared airlines face €5 billion in additional costs to meet sustainability targets.
Eddie Wilson shared “Energy companies are not producing enough SAF. We will use it when the price falls, but right now supply is too limited and too expensive. Fusion between human and AI is the key.”
Sophie Dekkers shared “Automation allows the team to focus on exceptions, while data science ensures we can identify problems as they happen.”
David Rowan shared: “AI is the fastest ever adopted technology. We shouldn’t assume that everything that was fact until now will continue to be a fact.”
Faith Taylor shared: “Data and leveraging AI will help the sector to become more efficient and improve operations.”
Hugo Espírito Santo shared “The new aviation industry is going to be smarter and more inclusive.”
Luís Rodrigues shared “Airlines are doing everything they can, but progress is not fast enough.”
Luis Gallego shared “Airlines want more efficient engines, but manufacturers lack incentives to invest in new designs. Hydrogen aircraft have already been delayed beyond 2035.”
