Contribute ideas with industry leaders
Thank you to all attendees, speakers and sponsors for joining us in Vienna and making Airline Distribution 2024 an outstanding conference!
This neutral forum, hosted by UATP, allows attendees to contribute ideas with industry leaders who are working to solve the complicated distribution questions facing the airlines today. Airline Distribution® 2024 will focus on the many facets of airline distribution, including airline trends, changing distribution needs, payment and technology advancements, and much more.
Date and Location
12-14 March 2024
Vienna
For More Information:
Agenda
| Date/Time | Session | Description | Speakers |
| Tuesday, 12 March |
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| 18.00-20.00 | Welcome Reception |
Sponsored by APG Network Join us as we kick off Airline Distribution 2024! |
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| Wednesday, 13 March |
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| 8.15 – 9.00 | Registration | ||
| 9.00 – 9.15 | Welcome Address | UATP President and CEO Ralph Kaiser will preview the conference agenda highlights. |
Speaker: –Ralph Kaiser, President and CEO, UATP |
| 9.15 – 9.45 | Keynote Address: The State of the Industry | Major shifts in the industry have created new challenges, but also greater opportunities in recent years. As debates about when “normality” will return, it begs the question: What is the new normal? Hear about the state of the industry, and what the future holds from this leading analyst. |
Speaker: –Jonathan Wober, Chief Financial Analyst, CAPA |
| 9.45 – 10.30 | A Shifting Airline Landscape: What’s Next for the EMEA region? | Airline leaders will discuss how the industry has recovered, and what this means for the next stage of growth. The fight for market share amongst flag carriers, LLCs, full-service carriers, and hybrids creates unique challenges globally. How will proposed mergers impact the industry? Will NDC take full effect in this region? A significant percentage of Lufthansa’s bookings are now through NDC — but will this make a difference to the bottom line? Will other carriers follow suit? This panel answers these critical questions. |
Moderator: –Michael Baker, Executive Editor, The BTN Group Panelists: –Christine Rovelli, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Fleet, Finnair -Kirsten Rehmann, CEO, Hahnair –Keith Wallis, Managing Director Customer Digital and Distribution, Air Canada
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| 10.30 – 11.00 | Networking Break & Expo Time | Sponsored by PayPal | |
| 11.00 – 11.20 | A Fireside Chat with Southwest Airlines | Join UATP President and CEO Ralph Kaiser as he discusses the latest risk considerations facing payments providers with Southwest Airlines’ Chris Priebe and Randy Gibbons. |
Moderator: –Ralph Kaiser, President and CEO, UATP Panelist: -Chris Priebe, Senior Director, Treasury – Payments and Risk, Southwest Airlines –Randy Gibbons, Sr. Advisor Global Payment Strategies & Risk – Treasury, Southwest Airlines |
| 11.20 – 12.00 | The Distribution Value Chain: Keeping Up with Expectations | How travelers search for, book, pay and travel has changed, disrupting the entire distribution value chain. As a result, keeping up with industry and traveler expectations is getting increasingly complex. Discussing this ever-evolving issue, panelists will provide insights into the impacts on the distribution value chain, and what the future looks like in the new age of airline distribution. |
Moderator: –Ian Luck, President, Distribution, T2RL Panelists: –Chuck Fischer, Vice President, Distribution and Financial Services, ARC –Rajeev Kumar, Founder, Managing Director & CEO, Mystifly -Sophia Melas, Director of Business Development, CellPoint Digital -Peer Winter, Chief Distribution Officer, W2 by GO7 |
| 12.00 – 12.40 | Beyond the Clouds: Top Airlines Trends Defining Travel in 2024 | Uncover the key trends shaping airline distribution channels to understand their direct implications on corporations’ travel programs. Understanding how customers stay flexible and aligned with the latest industry dynamics for optimal booking options that cater to diverse traveler needs. |
Moderator: –Ray Pazerekas, Regional Vice President, Concur Travel Suppliers, Americas, SAP Concur Speakers: –Anthony Toth, Managing Director – Digital Sales, United Airlines –Keith Wallis, Managing Director Customer Digital and Distribution, Air Canada |
| 12.40 – 14.00 | Lunch and Expo Networking Time | Sponsored by ARC | |
| 14.00 – 14.45 | Payment Trends Part 1: Balancing Customer Demand Against an Evolving Regulatory Environment |
Sponsored by Nuvei
The industry is under pressure to respond to the growing customer demand for more payment options, but going to market around the globe requires careful consideration of key international payment trends and various regional regulatory factors. This panel of global experts will share key insights to help providers develop global payment strategies. |
Moderator: –Pascal Burg, Director, Edgar, Dunn & Company Panelists: –Randy Gibbons, Sr. Advisor Global Payment Strategies & Risk – Treasury, Southwest Airlines –Zach Ornelas, SVP, Commercial, UATP –Louise Garratt, Head of Relationship Management, APEXX -Daniel Lapera, Strategic Planning Director, Plus Ultra -Bartek van de Pavert, Senior Business Development Manager, Nuvei |
| 14.45 – 15.25 | Airline Retailing: Are Airlines Doing Enough to Keep Up? |
Sponsored by PayPal
McKinsey estimates the value of airline retailing to be $40 billion by 2030. How can airlines maximize this opportunity? As this market evolves, airlines are exploring how to embrace its potential, particularly as the ONE Order distribution standard evolves. Will it work, and are airlines prepared? This panel discusses these ever-important questions. |
Moderator: -Boris Padovan, Partner, Travel in Motion AG Panelists: –Todd Royer, Director, North America Channel Partnerships, PayPal –Chris Phillips, Vice President – Global Sales, ATPCO –Alicia Racine, Merchandising & Ancillary Revenue Manager, Copa Airlines |
| 15.25 – 16.00 | Networking Break & Expo Time | Sponsored by PayPal | |
| 16.00 – 16.20 | New Regulatory Requirements: Shifting Compliance Standards from Card Schemes, the EU, and around the world. | Get the latest regulatory updates on PSD3/PSR, GDPR and more. This fireside chat will provide insights into card scheme rules and reaction to regulations, repatriation of funds from “challenging” locations, and intel on AML/sanction compliance standards. |
Moderator: –Dave Goldwin, Chief Legal Officer, UATP Panelists: –Monica Monaco, Founder and Managing Director, TrustEuAffairs |
| 16.20 – 17.00 | Technology and Digitization – Transformation | Sponsored by TNS The industry continues to enhance overall opportunities through technology including retailing and revenue opportunities, performance, and passenger experience. What digital initiatives are becoming the most important and being implemented? Will airlines embrace all or piecemeal opportunities? |
Moderator: –Philip Ziegler, Chief Technology Officer, UATP Panelists: –David Gunnarson, CEO, Dohop –Anthony Toth, Managing Director – Digital Sales, United Airlines –Max Rayner, Partner, Hudson Crossing –Jon Cole, Director of Product and Technical Solutions, TNS |
| 17.00 | Close of Day 1 | ||
| 17.00 – 18.00 | Cocktail Reception | Sponsored by PayPal | |
| Thursday, 14 March |
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| 8.15 – 9.00 | Registration | ||
| 9.00 – 9.10 | Opening Address | ||
| 9.10 – 10.00 | What NDC Is Really About | NDC is happening, but what is the reality? Are airlines following Lufthansa’s and American Airlines’ lead? Are TMCs ready? Some travel buyers say no, whereas TMCs say yes. What does the future look like with NDC and ONE Order? This panel discusses what the industry needs from this technology and the many lingering questions. |
Moderator: –Ian Luck, President, Distribution, T2RL Panelists: –Johnny Thorsen, VP of Business Development for Content Distribution, Spotnana –Eric Dumas, CEO, TPConnects –Roman Brauner, Principal Sales & Account Management, Sabre –George Bryan, Senior Director Distribution, Hawaiian Airlines –Brian Clark, Partner, Hudson Crossing –Mario Maier, Head of Distribution Solutions, Lufthansa Group |
| 10.00 – 10.30 | Networking Break & Expo Time | Sponsored by PayPal | |
| 10.30 – 11.15 | Payments Trends: Part 2 — The Value of AFPs |
Sponsored by Trustly
The rise of alternative forms of payment (AFPs) and account-to-account payments (A2A) have put the spotlight on a new layer of technology to optimize payment management capabilities: payment orchestration. But how can this model boost sales and grow your business? Is payment orchestration hype or the future? This panel shares how to successfully implement necessary payment strategies for performance, acceptance and removing integration complexities. |
Moderator: Maarten Rooijers, Founder, Payments Taking Off Panelists: –Simon Eve, Director of Travel, UK e-Commerce & Partners, Trustly –Toreson Lloyd, Co-Founder & CCO, APEXX –Tom Botts, CCO, Uplift –Kai Schilb, Head of Payment, Lufthansa Group
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| 11.15 – 11.45 | B2B payment trends shaping travel company strategies in 2024 and beyond | A decade ago, the idea that ‘every company will be a technology company’ was popular and indeed came to pass, travel included. But perhaps we can now say the same about fintech. Innovative fintech solutions, particularly in the world of payments, have evolved rapidly in recent years. Airlines are embracing new payment methods like virtual cards, account-to-account bank payments, and closed loop alternatives to turn non-core value propositions into profits. We discuss the B2B payment trends, challenges, and opportunities enabling travel to reach more customers and ultimately, drive revenue growth. |
Moderator: -Pascal Burg, Director, Edgar Dunn & Company Panelists: –Spencer Hanlon, Head of Global Travel Payments, Nium – Raquel Portillo, Payment, Fraud Prevention and Distribution Specialist, Air Europa -Friedrich Floto, Group CFO, AERTiCKET |
| 11.45 – 12.00 | What’s New At UATP | In 2023, UATP announced the strategic rollout of its new global payments network brand built to serve the evolving needs of our customers around the world. Get up to speed on how UATP is evolving with the ever-changing payments landscape to help businesses get more value from every payments experience. |
Speaker: –Zach Ornelas, SVP, Commercial, UATP |
| 12.00 – 12.10 | Close of Airline Distribution 2024 | ||
| 12.10 – 13.45 | Lunch and Expo Networking Time | Sponsored by TreviPay |
Speakers
 George BryanSenior Director – Distribution Hawaiian Airlines |
 Chris Phillips Vice President – Global Sales ATPCO |
 Ralph Kaiser President & CEO UATP |
 David Gunnarsson CEO Dohop |
 Christine Rovelli Senior Vice President, Strategy & Fleet Finnair |
 Michael Baker Executive Editor The BTN Group |
 Toreson Lloyd Co-Founder & CCO APEXX |
 Louise Garratt Head of Account Management APEXX |
 Monica Monaco Founder and Managing Director TrustEuAffairs |
 Johnny Thorsen VP of Business Development for Content Distribution Spotnana |
 Pascal Burg Director Edgar, Dunn & Company |
 Anthony Toth Managing Director – Digital Sales United Airlines |
 Ray Pazerekas Regional Vice President, Concur Travel Suppliers, Americas SAP Concur |
 Keith Wallis Managing Director Customer Digital and Distribution Air Canada |
 Chris Priebe Senior Director, Treasury – Payments and Risk Southwest Airlines |
 Ian Luck President, Distribution T2RL |
 Spencer Hanlon Head of Global Travel Payments Nium |
 Simon Eve Director – Travel & UK e-Commerce Trustly |
 Eric Dumas CEO TPConnects |
 Randy Gibbons Sr. Advisor Global Payment Strategies & Risk – Treasury Southwest Airlines |
 Philip Ziegler Chief Technology Officer UATP |
 Boris Padovan Partner Travel in Motion AG |
 Tom Botts Chief Commercial Officer Uplift |
 Dave Goldwin Chief Legal Officer UATP |
 Chuck Fischer Vice President, Distribution and Financial Services ARC |
 Jonathan Wober Chief Financial Analyst CAPA |
 Zach Ornelas SVP, Commercial UATP |
 Todd Royer Director, NA Channel Partnerships PayPal |
 Roman Brauner Principal Sales & Account Management Sabre |
 Daniel Lapera Strategic Planning Director Plus Ultra |
 Kirsten Rehmann CEO Hahnair |
 Rajeev Kumar Founder, CEO and MD Mystifly |
 Maarten Rooijers Founder Payments Taking Off |
 Friedrich Floto Group CFO AERTiCKET |
 Raquel Portillo Payment, Fraud Prevention and Distribution Specialist Air Europa |
 Bartek van de Pavert Senior Business Development Manager Nuvei |
 Sophia Melas Director of Business Development CellPoint Digital |
 Alicia Racine Merchandising & Ancillary Revenue Manager Copa Airlines |
 Peer Winter Chief Distribution Officer W2 by GO7 |
 Brian Clark Partner Hudson Crossing |
 Max Rayner Partner Hudson Crossing |
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 Jon Cole Director of Product and Technical Solutions TNS |
 Mario Maier Head of Distribution Solutions Lufthansa Group |
If you are interested in speaking at Airline Distribution® 2024, please contact [email protected].
Attending Companies
| ACH | Edgar, Dunn & Company | Plus Ultra |
| Aegean Airlines | EL AL | Quantus BNC |
| Aeromexico | Ethiopian Airlines | Sabre |
| AERTiCKET | EVA Air | SAP Concur |
| Air Astana | Fareportal | Shift4 |
| Air Canada | Finnair | Southwest Airlines |
| Air China | FLOA Pay | Spirit Airlines |
| Air Europa | Flocash | Spotnana |
| Air France KLM | Frontier Airlines | T2RL |
| AirPlus | Hahnair | TAP Air Portugal |
| Akbar Travels | Hawaiian Airlines | The BTN Group |
| ANA | Hudson Crossing | Thunes |
| APEXX | Kantox European Union SLU | TPConnects |
| APG | Kiwi.com | Travel in Motion AG |
| ARC | LATAM | TreviPay |
| ATPCO | LHG – Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, SWISS, Brussels Airlines | TrustEuAffairs |
| British Airways | Lufthansa Data Systems | Trustly |
| BTE | Lufthansa Group | TUI |
| Bulgaria Air | Malaysia Airlines | Turkish Airlines |
| CAPA | Mastercard | UATP |
| Cathay Pacific | Mystifly | United Airlines |
| CellPoint Digital | Nium | Uplift |
| Chargebacks911 | Nuvei | Vueling |
| China Eastern | Payments Taking Off | W2 by GO7 |
| Citcon | PayPal | Wego.com |
| ConnexPay | Paysafe Ltd | WEX |
| Copa Airlines | Perseuss | Actuary | Wizzair |
| Delta Air Lines | PKFARE HK LIMITED | |
| Dohop |
Sponsors
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If you are interested in sponsoring Airline Distribution® 2024, please contact [email protected].
General Registration
$995
Airline Registration
$295
*Airline attendees will need to enter a discount code during registration. Please contact [email protected] to receive the code.
Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel
Schottenring 24, Vienna, 1010, Austria
+43 1 236 1000
[email protected]
https://www.anantara.com/en/palais-hansen-vienna
Contact [email protected] if you have any questions about hotel reservations.
