The International Air Transport Association (IATA) will focus on the human role in aviation safety and resilience at the 2026 World Safety and Operations Conference (WSOC), scheduled to take place from October 6 to 8 in Istanbul, Türkiye. The conference, hosted by Turkish Airlines, will be held under the theme “Performance Through People,” with discussions examining how aviation professionals can effectively manage safety and operational challenges as technology continues to transform the industry.
IATA said the conference will focus on the people who use technology, data, artificial intelligence and automation in their daily work. While these tools are increasingly being used to manage risks and improve aviation operations, the association emphasized that employees need the appropriate skills and support to make effective use of them. The event will bring aviation safety and operations professionals together to share experience, discuss challenges and explore ways to strengthen the industry’s ability to respond to disruptions.
Aviation Leaders To Discuss Safety And Operations
The conference will bring together senior figures from airlines, aviation authorities, aerospace companies and other organizations involved in aviation safety and operations. Speakers will include Ahmet Olmuştur, CEO and Member of the Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines; Florian Guillermet, Executive Director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency; and Jodi Baker, Deputy Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.
Other speakers include Don Ruhmann, Senior Vice President and Chief Aerospace Safety Officer at Boeing; Marcus Schnabel, CEO of SunExpress Airlines; Rachel Barrie, Group Chief Executive of Global Aerospace; Andrea Sack, Senior Vice President of Global Operations at CANSO; Elmarie Marais, Chief Executive Officer of GoCrisis; and Abigail Pollard, Managing Director of Blake Emergency Services. IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security Nick Careen, along with IATA Director of Safety Mark Searle, will also participate in the conference.
Four Tracks To Examine Key Aviation Challenges
The WSOC will organize its discussions across four main tracks covering Safety, Cabin Operations, Operations, and Crisis Management. Sessions will examine issues ranging from geopolitical risks and their effects on human performance to human-centered approaches to safety, the relationship between risk appetite and human performance, and the need to prepare the aviation workforce for future safety challenges.
Crisis preparedness will also receive significant attention, with discussions planned on emergency response and the role of human needs in emergency planning. Other topics will include mental health, peer support and duty of care, reflecting the importance of supporting aviation personnel during emergencies and other challenging situations. The sessions are designed to examine how human performance can contribute to safer and more resilient aviation operations.
Workshops To Address Emerging Aviation Needs
The conference program will also feature workshops and specialized forums covering practical issues in aviation safety and operations. The “Connecting People through Safety” workshop will examine safety management and human factors, including the way people and systems interact and influence safety performance. Another session, “Airspace Efficiency & Resilience,” will focus on coordination, airspace management and information sharing in response to geopolitical disruption, weather and the arrival of new airspace users.
Other activities will include the Advancing Safety Insights with GADM session, which will explore the use of new FDX and IDX capabilities for safety analysis and data-driven decision-making. The Emergency Response Planning Forum will provide an opportunity to share experience and practices for improving emergency preparedness, while the IATA Turbulence Aware Forum will focus specifically on the association’s Turbulence Aware initiative. The WSOC will be open to accredited members of the press.
IATA Represents Major Global Aviation Network
The conference comes as the aviation industry continues to balance technological development with the need for strong human expertise in safety and operations. IATA said the WSOC will provide a platform for professionals to learn from one another and address the challenges created by changing operational environments, technological advances and disruptions affecting aviation.
IATA represents more than 370 airlines, accounting for approximately 85% of global air traffic, according to the association. With aviation professionals from airlines, regulators, aerospace companies and other organizations expected to participate, the Istanbul conference will provide an international forum for discussing how people, technology and operational systems can work together to strengthen aviation safety and resilience.
