oneworld Hosts Innovation Summit, Showcasing the Future of Travel

LISBON - 12 October 2026 - Building on the success of last year's inaugural event, oneworld® is hosting its second annual Innovation Summit. The event brings together digital, innovation, customer experience and sustainability leaders from across the alliance with technology partners, start-ups, scale-ups and investors to explore how new ideas, tools and partnerships are shaping more connected journeys for travellers worldwide. The event is taking place in Lisbon, ahead of the World Aviation Festival.

"Innovation doesn't happen in isolation. This year's summit will explore what's possible when airlines, start-ups and investors work together on shared challenges," said Ole Orvér, CEO of oneworld. "From AI to sustainable aviation fuel, our members are moving from experimentation to deployment at scale, and the alliance gives them a unique platform to learn from one another and move more quickly."

The summit will feature a mix of panel discussions, fireside chats, presentations and dedicated networking sessions, to share how innovation is sourced, scaled and embedded across the alliance and its member airlines.

The future of flight

Next-generation aircraft technology will take centre stage. Tom O'Leary, CEO of JetZero and Adam Triolo, vice president - Commercial Development of REGENT will be among those exploring how new approaches to aircraft design could help shape the future of air travel. Meanwhile, Sarah McLaren, Head of Widebody and Freighter Marketing at Airbus will discuss how collaboration between the aircraft manufacturer and Qantas is pushing the boundaries of long-haul flying.

Industry challenges

oneworld and its members continue to tackle the environmental impact of air travel through collaborative initiatives, including a $150 million fund launched by oneworld and Breakthrough Energy Ventures in 2025. Max Sabbe, Principal at Breakthrough Energy Ventures will share the latest on the fund's work to accelerate and scale new technology for the development and commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuel. The summit will also feature a panel discussion exploring American Airlines' and Google's ongoing efforts to mitigate contrails and reduce their climate impact.

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About oneworld:

oneworld brings together 15 world-class airlines - Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian and SriLankan Airlines to nearly 1,000 destinations. oneworld member airlines work together to consistently deliver a superior, consistent travel experience, with special rewards and privileges for its frequent flyers, including earning and redeeming miles and points across the entire alliance network, access to airport lounges, priority check in and boarding and extra baggage allowances and more. Learn more about the oneworld Alliance at oneworld.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

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