How AI Will Transform Future Airports: 1,300 Global Aviation Experts Gather in Incheon

2026 World Aviation Conference Opens

Discussions Cover Five Key Sectors: AI, Customer Experience, Aviation Security, Air Cargo, and Airport Expansion

Participants are listening to a presentation at the '2026 World Aviation Conference' held on the 8th at Paradise City in Jung-gu, Incheon. Photo by Incheon International Airport Corporation

A total of 1,300 aviation experts from around the world gathered in one place to discuss the future of airports, including visions for Incheon International Airport with integrated artificial intelligence (AI), as well as aviation security, logistics, and airport development—all reflecting the changing landscape of the global airport industry.

On September 13, Incheon International Airport Corporation announced that it had hosted the "2026 World Aviation Conference" from September 8 to 10 at Paradise City in Incheon. Now in its ninth year, this year's event brought together a record 1,300 participants, including aviation and airport industry professionals, as well as domestic and international experts from the public and private sectors, academia, and research institutes.

This year’s conference was held under the theme, “More Than an Airport: Paradigm Shift in the Airport Industry.” Across five key sectors—AI and customer experience, aviation security, air cargo, airport construction and expansion—21 speakers, including top airport executives, discussed the transformation of the future airport industry and strategies to respond to these changes.

In particular, the innovation of airport operations through AI was a major topic on the agenda. During the first session, Incheon International Airport Corporation introduced its plan to develop an “Aviation AI Hub.” Moderated by Song Jung, Dean of the KAIST Graduate School of AI, the session brought together domestic and international experts in AI and data centers to discuss the changes that AI technology will bring to airport operations and the industry ecosystem in the future.

In the field of aviation security, new screening technologies and operational case studies from overseas airports were shared. Various approaches were introduced, such as simplifying security procedures for passengers with disabilities and implementing walkthrough security screening that allows passengers to be screened while on the move without stopping separately.

In the air cargo sector, examples from airports in various countries were discussed to showcase how they are adapting to changes in the global logistics market. This included Taiwan’s measures to improve the efficiency of semiconductor cargo transportation and Brussels Airport’s case study in precision pharmaceutical logistics.

Strategies for expanding airport infrastructure were also a key agenda item. Narita International Airport in Japan presented its integrated terminal development plan, while Airports of Thailand shared strategies for infrastructure expansion across six airports under its management.

In addition, a technology exhibition featuring 14 domestic and international aviation companies took place during the conference. Incheon International Airport Corporation expanded the exhibition space by about 50% compared to last year to support the overseas market expansion of Korean companies.

Bumho Kim, Acting President and CEO of Incheon International Airport Corporation, said, "As successful AI transformation (AX) becomes a central discussion across the airport industry, this conference provided an opportunity to envision what future airports will look like under the influence of artificial intelligence." He added, "Based on the insights of experts and examples of overseas airports, we will promote service innovation tailored to the new era of artificial intelligence."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.