The future of ATC is being decided in Lisbon. Will you be there?

The conversations shaping the future of air traffic management don't happen in isolation — they happen in rooms full of the people who keep the skies safe, efficient, and moving. This May, those conversations will be held in Lisbon.

Airspace World 2026, brought to you by CANSO, returns on 26–28 May at the FIL, Lisbon, and the 2026 conference programme is shaping up to be the most compelling yet for ATC and ATM professionals.

Whether you're grappling with the realities of AI integration, the push to modernise legacy communications infrastructure, the emergence of next-generation platform architectures, or the very real operational pressures on European airspace right now, this year's agenda speaks directly to the challenges you face every day.

Here's a look at four sessions you won't want to miss.

Fireside Chat: What Will Be AI's Role in Air Traffic Management?

Artificial intelligence is no longer a concept on the horizon — it's arriving at the sector's doorstep. But what does that actually mean for controllers? Will AI become an invaluable tool that reduces workload and enhances situational awareness, or does greater reliance on automation carry risks of its own?

This fireside chat brings together Dawn Johnson (Rinaldi Consultants), Helena Sjöström, President & CEO of IFATCA, and Holly Apgar of L3Harris to tackle these questions head-on. Expect a frank, candid discussion of the pros, pitfalls, and alternative approaches that could shape the controller's role in an AI-augmented world.

Find out more about this session.

Navigating Europe's Air Traffic: Operational Challenges and How Europe Can Optimise Existing Capacity

European airspace is under mounting pressure. As traffic volumes surge and operational complexity grows, the sector must find ways to squeeze greater efficiency from the infrastructure and resources it already has — all while maintaining the highest safety standards.

Moderated by Iacopo Prissinotti, Director Network Management at EUROCONTROL, and featuring Peggy Devestel, Director of the EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC), this panel will bring together ANSPs, aircraft operators, and airports to examine the current situation and explore practical solutions — from cross-border airspace design and air-ground integration to open digital infrastructure and seamless airspace organisation. With Summer 2026 peak traffic on the horizon, this debate has real urgency.

Find out more about this session.

The Next-Gen ATM Platform

The era of closed, proprietary ATM systems is coming to an end. The question is: what comes next?

Magnús Már Þórðarson, CEO of Tern Systems, will make the case for a fundamentally different approach — one built on Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), cloud-native environments, and genuine collaboration between ANSPs and technology vendors. This session explores how a shift away from monolithic legacy systems toward modular, interoperable platforms can reduce fragmentation, lower barriers to innovation, and give ANSPs the flexibility they need to respond to the aviation challenges of the next decade. If your organisation is thinking about system modernisation, this session offers a practical and compelling roadmap.

Find out more about this session.

Be Ready for the Future: Modernise, Secure and Future-Proof ATM Ground-Ground Communications

Legacy ground-ground communications networks were not designed for the exponential growth in aviation data, the arrival of drones and eVTOLs, or the demands of Trajectory Based Operations (TBO) and System Wide Information Management (SWIM).

Laurent Phimphachanh, Senior Business Development Manager at SITA, and Maya Chbeir, Director of Product Management – Networks at SITA, will set out what a truly modern, secure, and scalable communications network looks like: one with intelligent, application-aware routing, robust cybersecurity, and a unified service-centric architecture capable of handling the demands of tomorrow's airspace. This session is essential for anyone involved in communications infrastructure strategy and planning.

Find out more about this session.

And that's just the beginning.

The full Airspace World 2026 conference programme spans three packed days of keynotes, panels, technical sessions, and networking opportunities — covering everything from sustainable aviation and cybersecurity to U-space and workforce development.

Explore the full agenda: airspaceworld.com/agenda

Meet the speakers: airspaceworld.com/speakers

Airspace World 2026 | 26–28 May | Lisbon, Portugal

Join thousands of aviation professionals — air traffic controllers, ANSPs, regulators, technology providers, and policymakers — at the world's leading ATM event.

👉 REGISTER NOW

Secure your place at Airspace World 2026 today and be part of the conversations that matter.