IATA WSOC 2026 to Explore the Human Edge in Aviation Safety
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the 2026 World Safety and Operations Conference (WSOC) will focus on the human elements in keeping aviation safe and resilient. Under the theme “Performance Through People” WSOC will take place from 6-8 October in Istanbul, Türkiye, hosted by Turkish Airlines.
Event Details
- Dates: 6–8 October 2026
- Location: Istanbul, Türkiye
- Host: Turkish Airlines
- Theme: “Performance Through People” – focusing on the human element in aviation safety and resilience.
Key Speakers
- Nick Careen (SVP, Operations, Safety & Security, IATA)
- Mark Searle (Director of Safety, IATA)
- Ahmet Olmuştur (CEO, Turkish Airlines)
- Florian Guillermet (Executive Director, EASA)
- Jodi Baker (FAA)
- Don Ruhmann (Boeing)
- Marcus Schnabel (CEO, SunExpress)
- Rachel Barrie (Global Aerospace)
- Andrea Sack (CANSO)
- Elmarie Marais (GoCrisis)
- Abigail Pollard (Blake Emergency Services)
Conference Tracks
1. Safety – human-centred safety, stabilised approaches, risk appetite vs human performance.
2. Cabin Operations – resilience and human factors in daily operations.
3. Operations – geopolitical risk, efficiency, and future-proofing aviation talent.
4. Crisis Management – reframing emergency response planning around human needs.
Workshops & Forums
- Connecting People through Safety – practical safety management and human factors.
- Airspace Efficiency & Resilience – coordination for geopolitical disruption and new airspace users.
- Advancing Safety Insights with GADM – using FDX and IDX for data-driven safety analysis.
- Emergency Response Planning Forum – strengthening preparedness and planning.
- IATA Turbulence Aware Forum – dedicated turbulence awareness and mitigation.
👉 The big picture: WSOC 2026 will spotlight how people, skills, and judgement remain central to aviation safety, even as technology, AI, and automation reshape risk management.
