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New Conference From ACI Europe and Vienna Airport to Focus on Eastern Europe
Kevin Rozario
November 6, 2024
Interest in Central and Eastern European aviation is hotting up.
© SOF Connect
Airports association, ACI Europe, and Vienna Airport will host a debut aviation conference specifically about the Central, Eastern, and Southeast European airport markets from December 4–6. It will follow soon after another aviation event in Sofia.
Called the Vienna CESEE Airport Forum, the new conference will spotlight the region’s growing significance in the global travel landscape and address current challenges as the industry rebounds after COVID19.
There is already an established airports conference that covers these regions, organized by Germany-based company, Aviation-Event. Its latest conference is taking place in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, from November 28-30 and includes speakers from Vienna, Tallinn, and Kraków airports; the Lithuanian Civil Aviation Association; Bologna Guglielmo Marconi and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International airports; plus both ACI World and ACI Europe.
Previous Aviation-Event conference locations have included Cluj in Romania, Vienna, Athens, Düsseldorf, and Salzburg.
At the new three‑day CESEE Forum, representatives from airlines, airports, technology firms, and industry organizations will join policymakers and business leaders to discuss strategies shaping the future of aviation in the region and beyond.
Benefiting from Connectivity Growth
Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe, commented: “In contrast to fragmented aviation policies in many Western countries, the CESEE region is distinctly positioned to harness the significant socio‑economic benefits of connectivity growth. This forum will offer international stakeholders an invaluable opportunity to collaborate and set the region’s air transport on a strong path toward success.”
Julian Jäger, Joint CEO and COO at Vienna Airport, added: “The global aviation industry is again on a growth path but is not developing uniformly. Business in Asia, the USA, and the Middle East is showing a massive increase whereas the upswing in Europe is proceeding more slowly. The region of Central, Eastern, and Southeast Europe is one of the fastest growing, and Vienna plays a special role here as a central hub.”
Speakers at the new event will include several CEOs including those from Riga Airport, SOF Connect, Polish Airports, Prague Airport, and Air Serbia; plus Ryanair’s chief commercial officer and Delta Air Lines’ SVP – Europe Middle East, Africa and India.
Sofia’s Expansion
An example of Eastern Europe’s potential was Ryanair passing 12 million passengers at Sofia Airport (SOF) in September having first started operations there in 2016. The low-cost carrier has invested heavily in the region—to the tune of US$400 million—and supported over 1,300 local jobs in the process.
Ryanair claims to be “Bulgaria’s largest and most reliable airline.” The carrier’s Country Manager for CEE & Baltics, Alicja Wójcik-Gołębiowska, said: “This summer, Ryanair is operating its biggest-ever schedule to/from Sofia Airport with 40 routes, including five new summer routes to Alicante, Bristol, Copenhagen, Skiathos, and Valencia.” Four Sofia-based aircraft will support the expansion.
SOF Connect, the operator of Sofia Airport, also recently announced the concept design for Terminal 3. “The project for the new terminal is a step towards the modern Sofia Airport, which we as a country and society expect and deserve,” said Krasimira Stoyanova, Bulgaria’s Minister of Transport and Communications.
Thierry Deau, Chairman and CEO of Meridiam, SOF Connect’s core investor, said: “The unveiling of the design for the future airport terminal marks another important milestone in our commitment to invest in and modernize this strategic transport infrastructure. Our ambition is to transform Sofia Airport into a world-class reference.”
Meridiam has experience in doing that within its existing portfolio including gateways such as New York’s LaGuardia, Queen Alia International in Jordan, and Ivato and Nosy Bé in Madagascar.