CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
Conference opening hours
Tuesday 23 February 2027 - 09:00 - 19:00 (Welcome Party: 17:00 -19:00)
Wednesday 24 February 2027 - 08:30 - 17:00 (Delegate Dinner: 19:00 - 22:00)
Thursday 25 February 2027 - 09:00 - 15:30
Day One
(Welcome Party: 17:00 - 19:00)
Please join us in the conference theatre for the official opening ceremony. Coffee will be available in the exhibition hall, before taking your seats.
Industries around the world are susceptible to geopolitical situations affecting their industry, aviation is no exemption. It is not just global conflicts that can cause market changes, regional differences in industry processes can affect the deployment ground support equipment and ground handling processes. This session will explore how global geopolitical situations are changing the aviation market across Asia and its implications on cargo, ground handlers and technology.
The deployment of electric ground support equipment is essential for the industry to reach net zero targets. However, regional differences across ground handling Asia can cause delays in the deployment of technologies and the development of infrastructure. The differences in low and high voltage eGSE and the lack of standardisation has created operational challenges across the continent. Industry experts across this panel will address these challenges and highlight the differences in eGSE deployment between nations.
The digitisation of ground handling operations has swept through the industry. Almost all the leading ground handlers have transformed operational performance, management of their fleets, and overall workforce optimisation with the use of artificial intelligence. AI, innovation, and digital ground technologies have changed the way the industry works. This discussion will highlight the positive impact of digitisation has on ground handling and how it has increased the efficiency of airside operations.
Day Two
The relationship between cost and safety is one that impacts ground handling daily. The cost of adequate handler and handler training often gets overlooked in improving the efficiency of airside operations. The transitional nature of ground handling, and cost being prioritised over quality of operation, often leads to rushed training for handlers on the ramp. The outcome? An overworked, underpaid, and undertrained workforce. This panel will bring together industry experts to address how a priority on safety, rather than cost, will increase the overall efficiency of ground handling.
High turnover and a decreasing number of individuals in the ground handling workforce is placing additional pressure on the industry. There must be a mindset shift, where ground handling can be seen as a career. Employment pathways and overall career progression must be placed at the centre of prospective ground handlers to prevent losing them to other industries. The aviation market is experiencing low employee retention in densely populated countries across Asia. This panel will explore why this is and highlight how aviation can become an attractive career option.
Autonomous ground support equipment is already being deployed on the ramp, leading to improved operational efficiency whilst decreasing the reliability of humans needed on the ramp. In an industry where handler retention and depleting staff numbers is affecting the market, the deployment of autonomous vehicles can offset labour constraints and reduce the reliance of required handlers. The industry experts on this session will highlight the successful project deployments of autonomous GSE across Asia.
The ramp can be a dangerous environment, with the safety of the ground handler remaining a priority. There are already precautions in place to prevent accidents, but what else can be done? What technologies to protect handlers from dangerous equipment? Should training measures be adapted or changed? This session will address what is being done to prioritise handler competency and reduce any potential dangers.
Day Three
(Welcome Party: 17:00 - 19:00)