LISBON, 15 October 2026 – Päivö Eerola, CEO of Pax2Pay, attended World Aviation Festival in Lisbon on 13–15 October 2026. His key takeaway: in the new era of airline retailing, distribution and B2B payments are more closely connected than ever, creating new opportunities to drive revenue and improve efficiency.
What was World Aviation Festival 2026 about?
The festival brought together more than 4,500 attendees and 600 speakers at FIL Lisbon. The programme covered AI and machine learning, airline retail, payments, customer experience, loyalty and sustainability, among other topics.
Day 1: distribution and payments are closely connected
Päivö’s key takeaway from Day 1 was that how airlines sell and how they get paid now depend on each other more than ever. In the new era of airline retailing, this connection creates new opportunities to drive revenue and improve efficiency.
Day 2: payments are a business in their own right
On Day 2, Ozan Berk Karatas of Turkish Airlines said: “For an airline, payments is a business in its own right. Success comes down to conversion, net revenue, and efficient settlement and reconciliation.” In his view, the major card schemes are still uniquely placed to deliver all three at global scale, with security and value for both buyers and sellers. A payment solution only lasts if it works for every stakeholder involved.
Päivö’s summary: as airline distribution keeps evolving, card-based infrastructure will remain a foundation for global commerce.
What this means for travel companies
Pax2Pay, part of the Paxport Group, is a payments platform built for the travel industry, serving OTAs, tour operators and travel agencies across the UK and EEA. To discuss airline retail or B2B payments with the team, get in touch.