Registration and refreshments
08:45 to
09:30
Morning chair’s welcome and opening remarks
09:30 to
09:40
Speaker:
Jane Thompson.
Deputy Chair.
British Aviation Group.
Unlocking airport growth and the next steps for development
09:40 to
10:05
Speaker:
Tim Walder.
Chair.
British Aviation Group.
How are recent and ongoing planning reforms supporting airport development?
10:05 to
10:35
- Insight on the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 – what will change for consenting airport development?
- The Airports National Policy Statement – timelines for review and amendment and implications for Heathrow expansion
- Lessons learned from recent approvals for major airport development plans
Speaker:
Robbie Owen.
Partner.
Pinsent Masons.
Panel Discussion: Scaling up airport capacity – how are London airports advancing major expansion and overcoming key development barriers?
10:35 to
11:20
- Timelines and priorities for development – identifying future opportunities for contractors to support expansion
- Avoiding delays and uncertainty during the planning stage – what can be done to speed up development?
- Integrating sustainability into the planning and procurement process
- Remaining functional and maximising revenues while bringing forward infrastructure projects
- What does increased demand for airport growth mean for the UK supply chain?
Speakers:
Colm Doherty.
Head of Projects.
London City Airport.
Liz Hardy.
Associate Capital Delivery Director.
Manchester Airports Group.
Gianluca Maestri.
Masterplanning Lead for Expanding.
Heathrow Airport.
Morning networking and refreshments
11:20 to
11:50
Insight on terminal transformations – upgrading existing assets to support rising passenger numbers and commercial growth
11:50 to
12:15
- What improvements can be delivered to increase the flight schedule and improve customer experience?
- Expanding live airports – aligning construction activities with ongoing airport services
- Lessons learned that can be applied to future development programmes
Speaker:
Mike Hardaker.
Chief Asset and Development Officer.
Manchester Airports Group.
Developing long-term masterplans to drive future growth and strengthen airport resilience
12:15 to
12:40
- What does a successful masterplan look like?
- Maximising land use efficiency by leveraging available assets
- Identifying future infrastructure needs to improve resilience – considering the impact of extreme weather events and cyber security threats
Speaker:
Graham Bolton.
Global Practice Leader Aviation.
Mott MacDonald.
Networking lunch
12:40 to
13:40
Afternoon chair’s welcome
13:40 to
13:45
Speaker:
Alan Corner.
Deputy Chair.
British Aviation Group.
Delivering multimodal airport connections – plans for expanding through an improved sustainable surface access strategy
13:45 to
14:10
- Providing direct transport services to new areas to enhance airport’s catchment
- Aligning your surface access strategy with local transport plans
- Optimising the opportunities from HS2 to improve connectivity in the Midlands
- Reducing carbon emissions from transport options – considering EV charging points, rail links, and buses
Speaker:
Nikki Bains.
Head of Planning, Transport and Strategy.
Birmingham Airport.
What’s next for regional airports amid sector expansion? Development opportunities beyond London
14:10 to
14:35
- How are regional airports supporting local communities and economies?
- Addressing capacity challenges as demand continues to increase – overcoming space constraints
- Boosting commercial revenues streams for smaller airports – what are the best options?
Speaker:
Chris Cain.
Strategy and Policy Director; Managing Director.
RABA Group; Northpoint Aviation Services.
Afternoon refreshments and networking
14:35 to
15:05
The progress toward decarbonising infrastructure and operations – aligning aviation growth with sustainability ambitions
15:05 to
15:30
- Meeting net-zero targets while delivering development plans
- What does the carbon budget mean for airports?
- The latest updates on implementing alternative fuels – considering SAF and hydrogen trials
Speaker:
Helen Leadbetter.
Technical Strategy Lead - Zero Emissions Flight.
Civil Aviation Authority.
Maximising the potential of advanced air mobility – how can airports prepare to support future transport modes?
15:30 to
15:55
- Implementing Vertical Take-Off and Landing solutions – how could these work by the end of 2028?
- How will airport infrastructure need to adapt to enable eVTOL operations?
- Getting ready for Regional Air Mobility - what airports need to think about and plan for
- Opportunities created by innovations that are unlocking new ways to travel and deliver goods
Speaker:
Darrell Swanson.
Director.
EA Maven.
Chair’s closing remarks
15:55 to
16:05
Close of conference and networking drinks
16:05 to
17:05