The 25th edition of this event saw three days of exciting product launches, expert panels and ambitious airport development plans. What were some of the main highlights?
This October’s inter airport Europe, held at the Munich Trade Fair Centre, was a real display of what’s to come in the world of aviation. As the biggest international exhibition for airport equipment and technology, inter airport Europe never fails to bring together a host of global suppliers and professionals. Industry experts from over 100 countries and almost 400 international suppliers were in attendance this year.
“The atmosphere was buzzing,” says Maria Gabriels, product marketing manager for RX Global, organiser of the event. “We hope attendees left inspired by the pace of innovation – especially around AI [artificial intelligence] and sustainability – and with actionable insights to improve passenger experience, operational efficiency and environmental impact.
“Feedback from attendees and speakers highlighted the value of networking and learning from global airport projects,” she adds.
Huyen Dieu Do from Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) kicked off the seminars, sharing that Vietnam’s Long Thanh Airport is expected to open next year. Upon completion, ACV hopes the airport will have the capacity for over 100 million annual passengers, making it the biggest of the operator’s 22 airports.
And that wasn’t all for the latest on airport builds and expansions. Liège Airport in Belgium visited in preparation for an upgrade, with projects to expand the site and extend its second runway expected for 2040.
Central Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) Airport also stopped by to learn about upcoming trends and innovations. Set to start construction southwest of Warsaw in 2026, CPK will serve as a new international airport and rail station for approximately 34 million yearly passengers. Its vision is to use AI to offer a seamless journey experience from passenger parking to baggage systems, and queue reduction. The target opening date is 2032.
With AI tools determined by a day one expert panel as “yet to mature”, there is real opportunity for machine intelligence to increase airport efficiency. As one of the over 75 exhibiting companies, ADB Safegate’s newly announced AI tool, AI: Airside Intelligence, has been built to exclusively understand the complex operations of all things airside. Learning from data, and turning it into valuable insights, AI: Airside Intelligence should enable remote monitoring to create both safer and faster airport operations in the future.
Yet, the AI picture was not entirely rosy. The Workforce of the Future panel discussed how an ageing workforce could need help navigating increasingly digitalised airport operations. On the other side, concerns also grew about younger staff losing out to AI when competing for entry-level jobs.
Across in the Innovation Theatre, some of day two’s sessions explored fuel, with sustainability being a key factor. Zero Emission Refuelling, led by aviation sales director Richard Lewis, focused on electric refuellers. Lewis highlighted the importance of selecting the right technology and people to support the switch.
Alex Mattos, managing director of i6 Group, explained in his session how digital refuelling shapes modern fuel operations, and how it could offer both environmental and commercial benefits.
Beyond sustainable fuel, AviaSafe celebrated its fifth year at the event by unveiling an all-new low-energy LED airport rotating beacon.
“Inter airport Europe 2025 was the perfect platform for AviaSafe to unveil our latest product innovations and BESPOKE® design options for 2026,” commented Nick Zea-Smith, sales and marketing for AviaSafe. “Exclusive previews, expert demos and collaborative discussions with industry professionals generated strong leads and fresh momentum for us.”
And it wouldn’t be an inter airport Europe event without the Innovation Awards. This year celebrated both start-ups and those established in the field. Some highlights include: S4GA winning the Sustainability Innovation Award for its Solar CAT I Airfield Lighting System, the Smart Airport & AI Innovation Award going to Leonardo SpA for its Bag Check AI, and Product Launch of the Year for Imenco’s FuelSCAN Analyser.
Almost 6,000 delegates attended this year, and with the 26th edition of inter airport Europe already announced to take place on 12-14 October 2027, there is so much to come.
Gabriels says that we can expect more AI integration, sustainability expansion and immersive technology experiences. “The next edition will continue to spotlight collaboration and future-focused solutions for airports of all sizes.”
