IATA’s First World Data Symposium to be Held in Dublin February 26-27

Image: Model airplane sitting atop global economic charts. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/gearstd)

by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 9:20 AM ET, Tue January 21, 2025

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) will be hosting the first-ever IATA World Data Symposium in Dublin, Ireland on February 26-27 to discuss the role of technology and data in aviation.

The event, the theme of which is “Digital skies, unleashing the power of Data in Aviation,” is hosted by Aer Lingus. Leaders in aviation will come together to discuss data, technology and cybersecurity, particularly the role of AI in aviation.

Among the speakers include Kim Macauley, IATA’s Chief Information and Data Officer; Lynne Embleton, CEO of Aer Lingus; Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA; Shawn Henry, President CISO for CrowdStrike; Habib Turki, Chief Development Officer, Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA); Lauri Reishus, President & CEO of ARC; Thiébaut Meyer, Director Office of the CISO, Google Cloud; Abby Daniell, Director, Worldwide Public Sector Industry Sales, Amazon Web Services; and Marie Owens Thomsen, Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, IATA.

“Data and technology are revolutionizing how we operate in many aspects of our lives, and the aviation industry is no different,” said Lynne Embleton, CEO of Aer Lingus. “The pace and scale of change enabled by digital over the last five years has surpassed anything from the previous 20 years."

"We are able to better understand our customers, optimize our processes, and use data to drive better decisions in real time. Yet what we have seen to date is only the tip of the iceberg," Embleton continued. "The applications of emerging technologies like AI, machine learning and robotics are still at an early stage and will continue to drive real changes in the aviation industry.”