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Your Airport Operations Summit - Australia

The Better Airport Summit Australia 2026

Air traffic keeps growing—and so do the peaks, disruptions and day-to-day variability. When terminals, stands, staffing and processing are all under pressure, the question is simple: how do you stay ahead of what’s coming next?

The Better Airport Summit brings airport operations professionals together to share what’s working, what’s not, and what’s changing—so you can take practical ideas back to your operation immediately.

Event dates: April 29-30, 2026

  • Duration: 2 x half-days – your time is important
  • Location: Brisbane
  • Venue: Ibis – Brisbane Airport Conference Centre
  • Cost: Free for airport delegates (numbers are limited)

This is the first Better Airport Summit in Australia, following our ongoing collaboration with airports in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane

What happens when airports come together?

Each year, we invite airport leaders and specialists to meet and compare notes, pressure-test ideas and share operational playbooks.

The Australian Summit edition brings the same format—in-person, practical, and built around real operations.

Event Schedule

Presentations are useful. The conversations are where the value lands.

Inspiration is great—until you get back to your desk and realise your situation is more specific than any slide deck. That’s why each session is followed by breakouts, panels or roundtables—so the learning connects directly to the challenges you’re dealing with in Australia right now.

What to expect: A relaxed atmosphere, high-quality discussion, and a room full of people who understand the realities of “hour-by-hour” operations.

Please note: The schedule will be updated regularly—check back for the latest sessions and speakers. 

Day 1 - April 29, 2026

12:30 - 01:15pm: Arrival lunch & networking

01:15 - 01:25pm: Welcome address
By Jackson Kerr and Rasmus Kaster

01:25 - 01:35pm: BAC/BNE host address
By Brisbane International Airport

01:40 - 02:40pm: Session 1: What is going on at your airport?
Each airport is asked to present one slide on their current focus areas. A template will be shared by Copenhagen Optimization.

02:40 - 02:55pm: Coffee Break

02:55 - 03:35pm: Session 2: Airport Presentation - a case study
(Presenter and topic to be announced shortly)

03:40 - 04:10pm: Session 3: Airport Presentation
Topic: Efficient security operations

04:10 - 04:20pm: Wrap up & What's on for Day 2
By: Jackson Kerr

04:20 - 05:00pm: Transportation to Dinner venue

05:00 - 06:00pm: Networking & drinks
Venue to be announced shortly 

06:00 - 10:00pm: Dinner 
The venue and menu will be announced shortly

Day 2 - April 30, 2026

08:30 - 09:15am: Breakfast & coffee

09:20 - 10:00am: Session 4: Airport presentation
Topic: Baggage operations

10:00 - 10:40am: Session 5: Airport presentation
Topic: Stand & gate

10:40 - 11:00am: Session 6: Better Airport - future state
Presenter: Rasmus Kaster, Copenhagen Optimization

11:00 - 11:20am: Coffee Break

11:20 - 11:40am: Session 7: External Presentation -  Airport Economics Outlook
(Presenter to be announced shortly)

11:40 - 12:40pm: Session8: Facilitated workshop
Facilitator: Jackson Kerr

12:40 - 12:50pm: Closing remarks
By Rasmus Kaster & Jackson Kerr

12:50 - 13.35pm: Lunch

 

 

Better Airport Summit 2025 - presentation

What you'll get from two days

  • Real-world lessons from airport teams tackling forecasting, capacity constraints and disruption management
  • Peer breakouts to translate ideas into your airport’s context (because no two airports have “generic” challenges)
  • Practical takeaways you can implement quickly—process, data and operational decisioning
  • Direct access to Better Airport specialists for deep dives and Q&A
  • A stronger network of airport professionals you can call on long after the Summit

Who you'll meet (and why you should come)

This Summit is built for airport operations professionals in Australia—especially analysts and specialists, with sessions also relevant for operational leaders and execs.

You’ll be in the room with airport peers and Better Airport experts, focused on practical discussion rather than generic presentations.

Come if you work with:

  • Forecasting and passenger flow planning
  • Check-in, security and queue performance
  • Baggage flows and reclaim performance
  • Stands, gates and turnaround coordination
  • Disruption planning and day-of-ops decision-making

You'll leave with:

  • Real examples of what’s working at other airports
  • Ideas you can apply to your operation quickly
  • New connections you can lean on after the event

Register for Better Airport Summit Australia 2026

Register to secure your place. We’ll confirm attendance and share final agenda and logistics closer to the event.