Skift Aviation Forum

Omni Fort Worth
Fort Worth, TX

November 1, 2023

ON-DEMAND SESSIONS COMING SOON

Charting New Territory

Skift Aviation Forum 2023 returns to Fort Worth, TX, bringing together CEOs and senior executives from across the airline industry to discuss the future of aviation.

Crafted for leaders of the industry, this event brings together aviation’s most influential and creative minds for thought-provoking, on-stage sessions expertly shaped by Skift’s incisive editorial viewpoint, extensive research, and the depth and authority of Airline Weekly, the highly influential global business newsletter read by CEOs and senior executives across the airline industry.

Throughout this can’t-miss industry event, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the growing impact of the major changes and developments in aviation: strong leisure demand, a blended business travel future, and constant agility in the face of operational headwinds.

Skift Live Event attendees watching live talks on stage. Image shows audience member taking photographs of the stage.

This Day-Long Forum Will Focus On:

  • CEO View: What Are the Big Opportunities and Headwinds for the Industry? 
  • Operations: Have Airlines Smoothed Out Operations and Improved Their Reliability? 
  • Fleets: How Are Fleets Modernizing to Reduce Costs, Improve Networks, and Advance Sustainability?
  • Networks: What’s on the Radar for Global Networks and Airline Capacity?
  • Regions: How are Low-Cost Carriers Competing Across Europe, Latin America, and Other Parts of the World? 
  • Labor: What Can Aviation Do to Resolve Its Labor Challenges? 
  • Data: Has Personalization and Data Become More Relevant for Airlines and Driving Revenue?
  • AI: How are Platforms Integrating Generative AI and Improving the Traveler Experience? 
  • Demand: Can Airports and Airlines Stay Ahead of Demand and Strengthen Consumer Trust? 

Agenda

Opening Night Event: Attendees can join us for our Aviation Forum opening reception, held at the Fort Worth Zoo on October 31 from 6-8pm CDT.

Wednesday, November 1st

9:00 AM

Welcome and Introduction

9:10 AM

Big Opportunities and Headwinds for the Industry

Robert Isom

American Airlines
CEO

Moderator

Edward Russell, Editor, Skift Airline Weekly
9:40 AM

Boosting Capacity to Meet Demand

Steven Udvar-Házy

Air Lease Corporation
Executive Chairman of the Board

Moderator

Brian Sumers, Founder and Editor, The Airline Observer
10:05 AM

Reimagining the Modern Retailing Experience

Kartik Yellepeddi

FLYR Labs
VP of Product, Offer & Order

Moderator

Dan Marcec, Research Editor, SkiftX
10:20 AM

Putting Passengers First in a Digital World

Charu Jain

Alaska Airlines
Senior Vice President, Merchandising and Innovation

Moderator

Edward Russell, Editor, Skift Airline Weekly
10:45 AM

Break

11:15 AM

How Airports Are Evolving for the Decades Ahead

Sean Donohue

Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport
CEO

Moderator

Sarah Kopit, Editor-in-Chief, Skift
11:40 AM

Understanding Today’s Airline Traveler

11:55 AM

Is Low-Cost Long-Haul Here to Stay?

Charles Duncan

Norse Atlantic Airways
President

Moderator

Brian Sumers, Founder & Editor, The Airline Observer
12:15 PM

Building Operational Resilience

Bob Jordan

Southwest Airlines
President and CEO

Moderator

Brian Sumers, Founder and Editor, The Airline Observer
12:45 PM

Lunch

1:45 PM

The Friendly Skies: 2023 Edition

Andrew Nocella

United Airlines
EVP and Chief Commercial Officer

Moderator

Brian Sumers, Founder and Editor, The Airline Observer
2:10 PM

Building Brand Loyalty Beyond Points

2:25 PM

The Trillion Dollar Dilemma: Growth vs. Sustainability

3:05 PM

Strengthening Consumer Trust

Jude Bricker

Sun Country Airlines
CEO

Moderator

Brian Sumers, Founder and Editor, The Airline Observer
3:30 PM

Break

4:00 PM

Modernizing Aviation’s Future

Jeff Knittel

Airbus Americas, Inc.
Chairman and CEO

Moderator

Sarah Kopit, Editor-in-Chief, Skift
4:25 PM

Why Leading Airlines Are Focused on Data

4:40 PM

A New Era of In-Flight Experience

5:30 PM

Reception

Why Attend?

Connect with peers from across the aviation industry during multiple networking opportunities. Learn from top creatives and executives during exclusive interview sessions and talks. Chart your path forward for 2023 and beyond based on your conversations and experiences at the Forum.

Who Should Join?

Skift Aviation Forum attendees are a mix of both experienced veterans and forward-thinking newcomers that seek greater insight into the business of aviation. Since we started our events program in 2014, we’ve welcomed over 21,000 attendees from all over the world.

See Who is Attending This Year

Where Is It?

We are returning to the Dallas-Fort Worth area for this year’s Skift Aviation Forum for the can’t-miss airline industry event. This year, SAF will be held at the luxurious and elegant Omni Fort Worth located in the heart of downtown Fort Worth, Texas.

Who Plans to Attend Skift Aviation Forum 2023

Over 200 top companies plan to attend Skift Aviation Forum next week. This includes household names like Aero, AirlineGeeks, American Airlines, Boeing, CLEAR, Delta, Expedia, GE Aerospace, Honeywell, Lufthansa, Oneworld, Skyscanner, and Southwest, just to name a few. View the companies attending: Don’t Miss Out Your ticket also includes access to an opening reception at the Fort Worth Zoo, all conference sessions covering…