The International Air Transport Association (IATA) will hold the World Financial Symposium (WFS) and World Passenger Symposium (WPS) in Istanbul on 5–6 November 2025, hosted by Turkish Airlines. The event will bring together leading figures in aviation retail, finance, payment systems, and digital identity.
Sandrine Le Borgne, IATA Senior Vice President of Corporate Services and CFO, stated, “The aviation industry is on the verge of a major transformation. New retail models, groundbreaking payment technologies, and digital identity applications are reshaping the way airlines operate. WFS/WPS will offer a unique opportunity to learn from innovation leaders and align strategies accordingly.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Şeker, Finance Director and Board Member of Turkish Airlines, said, “We are proud to co-host the IATA WFS/WPS in Istanbul. As the airline connecting the most countries in the world, we are committed to leading the industry’s transformation in digital identity, finance, and retail.”
IATA Senior Vice President Nick Careen also highlighted the importance of the 2025 Global Passenger Survey (GPS) results to be announced at the symposium, stating, “We will reveal passengers’ need for technology in shopping, payment, and travel experiences.”
Program Highlights
- 2025 Global Passenger Survey Results: Exclusive insights into passenger priorities.
- Payment Systems and Boards: Tackling a $22 billion cost burden.
- Customer-Centricity: Creating value through finance, retail, and operations.
Special Sessions
- Retail Transformation with Artificial Intelligence
- Order-Based Payment and Financing Models
- Digital Identity and Biometric Applications
Speakers Include
- Gary Liu, CEO, Antom (Ant International)
- Tamur Goudarzi Pour, Vice President of Strategy, Lufthansa Group
- Christine Rovelli, Chief Revenue Officer, Finnair
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Şeker, CFO, Turkish Airlines
- Dr. Kerem Kızıltunç, CIO, Turkish Airlines
Istanbul will host this critical gathering in 2025 that will shape the future of global aviation.
