IATA Wings of Change Europe Goes to the Heart of European Policymaking

23 October 2025 (Geneva) – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the 2025 Wings of Change Europe (WOCE) conference will focus on bringing aviation’s core issues of competitiveness and sustainability to the center of European policymaking. WOCE will take place on 18-19 November in Brussels, Belgium, hosted by Brussels Airlines.

“This year, Wings of Change Europe moves to the heart of European policymaking. Holding our event in Brussels will help bring aviation issues to the doors of regulators and politicians who hold the levers that can help reinvigorate European air connectivity. One year on from Mario Draghi’s landmark report on European competitiveness, our conference will look at the value of a competitive and sustainable aviation industry and what it can contribute to Europe. Three decades ago, de-regulation sparked a revolution in air transport that turned the European project into a community and catalyzed economic growth. The mission of WOCE this year is to inspire Europe’s policymakers to boldly seize the day, rediscover the potential for aviation to stimulate the continent’s economy, and free its airlines from onerous regulation accumulated over 25 years,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Speakers and Sessions

Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, will be joined by a wide variety of key policymakers and senior industry figures.

Political and regulatory representation will include:

• Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, European Commission
• Jan Jambon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Pensions, Belgium
• Hugo Espirito Santo, Secretary of State for Infrastructure, Portugal
• Andrey Novakov, Member of the European Parliament, EPP and Dolors Montserrat, Vice Chair of the European People’s Party (EPP)
• Filip Cornelis, Director, Aviation, DG MOVE, European Commission
• Florian Guillermet, Executive Director, EASA
• Elisabeth Kotthaus, Deputy Director, Head of Unit DG Move, European Commission

Many industry leaders will be on the agenda, including:

• Luis Gallego, CEO, IAG and Chair of the Board of Governors, IATA
• Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO, Brussels Airlines
• Mehmet Nane, Chairperson of the Board, and Guliz Ozturk, CEO, Pegasus Airlines
• Filip Czernicki, CEO & President, CPK Airport Poland
• Frédéric Guignier, CEO, DSNA
• Iacopo Prissinotti, Director, Network Management, Eurocontrol
• Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director, Airlines for Europe (A4E)
• Dr. Joachim Lang, Director General, German Aviation Association (BDL)

Key topics will include Value of Aviation, Competitiveness and Connectivity, Sustainability, Infrastructure and Capacity, Passenger and Digitalization, and Accessibility.

The event will be held at the Steigenberger Icon Wiltcher's Hotel, Brussels.