The three-day conference, themed “Performance Through People,” brings the global aviation community to Istanbul to examine how people, technology and data combine to keep operations safe and resilient.
Turkish Airlines is hosting the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) World Safety and Operations Conference (WSOC) in Istanbul, running from 6 to 8 October 2026 under the theme “Performance Through People.” The conference brings together the global aviation community to explore the role of people in maintaining safe and resilient operations, as technology, data, artificial intelligence and automation continue to transform how the industry manages risk. Turkish Airlines CEO Ahmet Olmuştur delivered an opening address and took part in a CEO panel on geopolitical risk and its impact on people performance on the conference’s first day.
Commenting on the occasion, Turkish Airlines CEO Ahmet Olmuştur stated: “Safety is at the heart of everything we do at Turkish Airlines. The value of our investments in technology is realized through the knowledge, experience and sound judgment of our people. We believe a strong safety culture grows through continuous learning, open communication and a shared sense of responsibility. We are pleased to welcome the global aviation community to Istanbul for IATA’s World Safety and Operations Conference. We believe the exchange of experience and the collaboration fostered here will contribute to the safe and resilient growth of our industry.”
“People are the foundation of aviation safety. Technology can sharpen our insight and strengthen decision-making, but it is the skills, judgment and leadership of aviation professionals, supported by strong global standards, that turn these advances into safer operations. WSOC is about how we continue to invest in people, use technology with purpose and strengthen the standards that enable aviation to learn, adapt and improve. We thank Turkish Airlines for hosting us in Istanbul and for its strong commitment to safety, industry leadership and collaboration,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety and Security.
The conference features four tracks, Safety, Cabin Operations, Operations, and Crisis Management, examining topics including the impact of geopolitical risk on human performance, human-centred safety practices, the development of future aviation safety talent and human needs in emergency response planning; workshops and forums will also explore airspace efficiency and resilience, data-driven safety analysis, emergency preparedness and turbulence.
