Ahead of PTE Asia 2026, which will take place in Singapore on September 23-24, PT World has picked out five sessions from this year’s conference program that are well worth prioritizing.
The PTE Asia Conference will deliver a high-level, content-rich program addressing the most pressing priorities facing airports and aviation stakeholders across the region today. Through keynote presentations, expert panels, case studies and thought leadership sessions, it will explore critical themes including airport design and development, digital transformation, passenger experience, operational resilience, sustainability, cybersecurity and future-ready airport ecosystems. Bringing together senior airport executives, policymakers, technology leaders, consultants, designers and operators from across Asia and beyond, the event is designed to be both strategic and actionable, spotlighting real-world implementations and lessons learned from the region’s leading airport projects.
Here are five picks from this year’s program.
Editor’s selected highlights
What: Executive panel: The airport of 2050 – what will matter, and what won’t
When: Thursday, September 24
Who: Mike Nakornkhet, chief executive officer, San Francisco International Airport; Myron Keehn, president and chief executive 0fficer, Edmonton International Airport
Planning for the airport of 2050 requires imagination and discipline. While emerging technologies promise transformation, history shows that not all innovations endure. This forward-looking panel brings together airport leaders, including San Francisco International Airport CEO Mike Nakornkhet and Edmonton International Airport president and CEO Myron Keehn, to examine which fundamentals of airport design and operations will remain constant, and which assumptions are likely to evolve. Expect discussion on making long-term investment decisions amid technological uncertainty, climate realities and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
What: Transforming airport pass and staff access control systems
When: Wednesday, September 23
Who: Alan Tan, senior vice president, aviation security, Changi Airport Group
As airports evolve into increasingly complex, technology-driven environments, modernizing pass and staff access control has become critical to strengthening security, improving operational efficiency and enhancing workforce mobility. Alan Tan will explore how airports are transforming access control frameworks through digitalization, automation and smarter identity management, weighing robust security requirements against operational agility and the future of seamless staff access.
What: Tashkent’s next take-off – building Central Asia’s largest aviation hub
When: Thursday, September 24
Who: Javlonbek Umarkhodjaev, chairman of the board, Uzbekistan Airports
This presentation will explore Uzbekistan’s ambitious vision to position Tashkent as a leading aviation hub for Central Asia. Umarkhodjaev will offer insights into the country’s airport modernization strategy, infrastructure expansion plans and long-term development roadmap, highlighting how Uzbekistan Airports is strengthening regional connectivity, attracting international carriers and aligning airport growth with national economic development goals.
What: Panel: Designing for growth – expanding capacity without expanding chaos
When: Wednesday, September 23
Who: Neha Bagrecha, head of design, Ahmedabad Airport
As passenger volumes continue to rise, airports face mounting pressure to expand capacity while maintaining seamless operations and a high-quality passenger experience. This session, featuring Neha Bagrecha, will explore how airports can adopt a future-ready approach to expansion by integrating scalable design principles, optimizing passenger and baggage flows, and leveraging technology to anticipate operational challenges ahead of them.
What: Panel: Automation at scale in Asia’s megahubs
When: Thursday, September 24
Who: Tatsuya Izumi, deputy general manager, Narita International Airport
Asia’s megahubs operate at extraordinary scale, processing tens of millions of passengers annually under intense operational pressure. This panel, featuring Tatsuya Izumi of Narita International Airport, will examine how automation is being deployed at scale across the region’s major hubs – from priority areas and the transition from pilot programs to full deployment, through to workforce transformation and how airports are measuring ROI beyond cost savings.
Visit the PTE Asia 2026 website for further information.
And click here to register for the exhibition and conference.
PTE Asia 2026 will take place at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore
September 23-24, 2026
