Largest aviation and travel summit kicks off in Adelaide

The pre-eminent strategic aviation and travel summit for the Australia Pacific region kicks off in Adelaide today.

The two-day CAPA Aviation Summit will focus on rebuilding domestic and international aviation post COVID and it is expected to attract more than 300 senior airline executives, airports, state and national tourism organisations, corporate travel executives and suppliers.

CAPA is one of the world’s most trusted sources of market intelligence for the aviation and travel industry. It holds aviation summits in key markets around the world looking at global insights and trends.

The event is widely regarded as the largest and most influential aviation summit in the Australia Pacific region.

It comes at a time when aviation in Australia is facing many challenges as it rebuilds.

The industry has seen rapid recovery on the back of new opportunities and a significant market desire to travel again.

Returning to sustainable, functioning businesses will be a key topic for discussion.

Senior executives from Virgin Australia, Qantas and Rex will speak, along with a number of international airlines.

Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison said it is wonderful that the CAPA Aviation Summit event is in Adelaide and focused on exploring the issues facing the aviation industry at a very challenging point in history.

"The CAPA Aviation Summit is a sign that we are all well and truly focused on the future, and on the road to restoring the travel, aviation and tourism sectors and therefore the wider economy," she said.

"We expect the summit to deliver real insight into the latest trends and global data providing valuable intelligence to everyone involved in the sector and committed to contributing to its recovery.

"Thousands of jobs in our state, particularly tourism, international education, trade, defence, space, mining, and resources rely on sufficient and reliable airline access.

"By hosting this event here in Adelaide, we have the opportunity to meet with key airline partners and discuss the future of those sectors in SA and the economic benefits for the State’s overall economic growth."

Brenton Cox, Adelaide Airport Managing Director said it is an incredibly important time for the aviation industry as networks rebuild and passenger numbers grow post the pandemic.

"Having the eyes of the global aviation market on Adelaide at such a critical phase provides us with an invaluable opportunity to highlight South Australia as a leading tourism and business events destination, while also showcasing our top tier facilities such as our newly expanded domestic and international terminal," he said. 

Marco Navarria, CAPA Content & Marketing Director said the summit will bring the leaders of the sector from all around Australia and the world to this fantastic destination.

"We are extremely excited to bring CAPA’s pre-eminent aviation and travel industry event to Adelaide and South Australia," he said. 

"We are excited to welcome key leaders from Qantas, Virgin Australia, and Rex, as well as a range of others discussing the rebuilding of Australia’s domestic and international aviation, the rise of environmentally sustainable aviation, South Pacific tourism, and the recovery of business travel."