In the ever-turbulent world of air travel, Istanbul is about to become the industry’s centre of gravity. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that its joint World Financial Symposium (WFS) and World Passenger Symposium (WPS) will take place in Türkiye’s vibrant metropolis from 5–6 November 2025, hosted by the national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines.
The twin symposia will bring together a who’s who of airline executives, finance chiefs, payment innovators, and digital visionaries — all keen to discuss what’s next for aviation’s retail and revenue future.
Aviation’s Great Transformation
“Aviation is on the cusp of a major transformation,” said Sandrine Le Borgne, IATA’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Services and CFO. “New retailing models, disruptive payment technologies, and digital identity are reshaping how airlines serve customers and run their businesses. CFOs will be at the centre of this shift, ensuring the financial strategies, systems, and investments align with the industry’s future. IATA WFS/WPS is a unique opportunity to take stock of these changes, learn from those at the cutting edge of innovation, and align strategies.”
It’s an apt description. The industry is shifting faster than a boarding gate change at Heathrow. Payment methods once limited to credit cards are now expanding into blockchain, biometrics, and AI-driven systems — areas once reserved for science fiction.
Turkish Airlines: A Natural Host
“As the airline that connects more countries than any other, we are proud to host this important joint event in our home city,” said Assoc. Prof. Murat Şeker, Chief Financial Officer and Turkish Airlines’ Board of Directors and Executive Committee member. “We are committed to leading the transformation of passenger travel and to remaining at the forefront of innovation in finance, digital identity, and retailing — all central to offering a smarter, simpler, and more comfortable journey worldwide.”
And where better than Istanbul, a city straddling two continents, to symbolise the industry’s own bridging of old and new? With Turkish Airlines now flying to more than 340 destinations, the carrier perfectly embodies the global ambition and modernisation that IATA seeks to inspire.
Passengers at the Heart
“Aligning change to customer expectations is critical,” noted Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety and Security. “At WFS/WPS 2025 we’ll reveal key insights from the latest IATA Global Passenger Survey (GPS). From past surveys, we know passengers care deeply about how they shop and pay for travel and that they’re eager for technology to make their journeys better. The GPS will help the industry unlock the value of innovation in digital identity, payments, and retailing.”
It seems that passengers want more than in-flight Wi-Fi and extra legroom; they want the booking and payment process to be as frictionless as the flight itself.
What’s on the Agenda
The 2025 programme promises a full itinerary of ideas. Keynotes will be delivered by Prof. Ahmet Bolat, Chairman of Turkish Airlines, and Sandrine Le Borgne of IATA. Delegates can expect:
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2025 Global Passenger Survey Results – exclusive insights into evolving traveller priorities.
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Why Payment Should Be on Your Board Agenda -Tackling the Industry’s USD 22 billion cost burden.
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Putting the Customer First – unlocking value through more innovative finance, retailing, and operations.
Three specialist tracks will delve deeper:
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Offers & Orders in the Making – airline case studies on how AI and legacy-free systems are reshaping retail and customer experience.
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Payment & Finance to Order – exploring modern payment systems, order accounting, and innovation standards.
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Digital Identity & Orders – investigating how biometrics and digital identity can simplify border checks and personalisation.
Among the confirmed speakers are Gary Liu, CEO of Antom (Ant International); Tamur Goudarzi Pour, EVP Strategy at Lufthansa Group; Christine Rovelli, Chief Revenue Officer at Finnair; Assoc. Prof. Murat Şeker, Turkish Airlines; and Dr Kerem KızılTunç, the airline’s Chief Information Technology Officer.
Why It Matters
The airline industry may often be accused of being slow to change, but when it moves, it moves fast. From NDC (New Distribution Capability) to retailing modernisation, from order accounting to digital identity, the WFS/WPS summit aims to bring coherence to an ecosystem that is evolving faster than some airlines can update their websites.
For IATA, this isn’t just another conference; it’s a rallying point for the industry’s financial and passenger-experience revolution. For Turkish Airlines, it’s a golden opportunity to showcase its technological prowess and reaffirm Istanbul’s role as a true crossroads of global aviation.
So, come November 2025, while most travellers will be watching flight schedules, the world’s aviation leaders will be watching Istanbul and perhaps, for once, delays will be something to look forward to.
By Jason Smith
BIO:
Jason Smith has the kind of story you can’t fake, built on long flights, new cities, and that unmistakable hum of hotel life that gets under your skin and never quite leaves. Half American, half Asian, he grew up surrounded by the steady rhythm of the tourism trade in the U.S., where his family helped others see the world long before he did.
Eager to carve out his own path, Jason packed his bags for Bangkok and the Asian Institute of Hospitality & Management, where he majored in Hotel Management and found a career and a calling. From there came years on the road, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam — each stop adding another thread to his craft.
He made his mark in Thailand, eventually becoming Director of Sales for one of the country’s leading hotel chains. Then came COVID-19: borders closed, flights grounded, and a new chapter began.
Back home in America, Jason turned his knack for connection into words, joining Global Travel Media to tell the stories behind the check-ins written with the same warmth and honesty that have always defined him.
