From October 14th to 16th, the IATA World Safety and Operations Conference (WSOC) will be held in Xiamen, hosted by Xiamen Airlines. This marks the first time the conference has been held in China, and airlines, civil aviation regulators, international organizations, and aviation suppliers from approximately 70 countries will attend.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) represents approximately 350 airlines, accounting for over 80% of global air traffic. WSOC is its highest-profile annual conference on aviation safety and operations. Themed "Future-Facing Aviation: Strategies for Success," this year's conference will explore innovative approaches and thinking in aviation safety and operations, research transformative solutions, and gain the latest industry insights.
Zhao Dong, Chairman and Party Secretary of the company, stated that the 2025 World Safety and Operations Conference in Xiamen, China, demonstrates China's important role in shaping the future of global aviation safety. As one of the world's largest and fastest-growing air transport markets, China not only maintains a solid safety record but also continues to invest in new infrastructure and cutting-edge technologies. Zhao Dong pointed out that this conference not only provides a high-end platform for Chinese aviation companies to exchange and learn from each other, helping to consolidate and promote the industry's safety operations experience, but also brings together Chinese wisdom and top global experts in an open manner, injecting strong momentum into jointly discussing industry safety development plans and creating sustainable safety practices.
"This year's World Safety and Operations Conference focuses on the development of a future aviation safety governance system," said IATA Director General Willie Walsh. The conference, based on the dual perspectives of technological innovation and risk prevention, will delve into key topics such as the safe management of the surge in lithium batteries carried by passengers and the optimization and improvement of aviation safety incident reporting mechanisms, directly addressing the pain points and difficulties of industry safety governance. He stated that only by taking a problem-oriented approach, proactively identifying changes, and responding scientifically to these real-world challenges can the global civil aviation industry firmly grasp the development initiative amidst the complex challenges of the future and truly achieve the coordinated advancement of safety and development for long-term stability.
This conference features four expert sessions covering flight operations, cabin operations, flight operations, and crisis management (emergency response planning and aircraft recovery). Flight Operations focuses on core topics such as accident investigation and runway safety. Cabin Operations addresses issues such as human factors and lithium battery transportation. Flight Operations covers training innovation, fuel efficiency, and sustainable development. Crisis Management focuses on crisis communication, leadership, and family support.
In addition, the conference also includes a series of supporting events, including the IOSA Symposium, the Turbulence Perception Forum, and the Airspace Optimization Symposium. These events focus on international aviation safety audits, data-driven turbulence management, and the refined allocation of airspace resources, aiming to improve the safety and efficiency of aviation operations from various perspectives.