The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) proudly announces the resounding success of its Executive Summit 2025 held in Hong Kong from June 24-26. Hosted by Cathay Cargo, the Executive Summit brought together over 280 senior executives from across the global air cargo ecosystem.
The Executive Summit offered participants the chance to engage in strategic conversations around the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the industry today, including AI integration, sustainability, regulatory alignment, digital transformation, airport development, e-commerce and how to respond to the current global geo-political tensions. This year’s edition continued TIACA’s mission of connecting air cargo leaders, innovators, and rising talent in a collaborative and future-focused environment.
The Executive Summit was opened by Mable Chan, JP, Secretary for Transport and Logistics at Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, who stressed the important role transport and logistics plays in the overall Hong Kong economy. The conference program also featured a robust line-up of panels and keynotes on a wide range of topics relevant to the evolving global market. Industry leaders shared insights on subjects including e-commerce and market growth, air cargo security, infrastructure investment and operational digitisation.
The event kicked off with an exclusive tour of Cathay Cargo Terminal, followed by a Welcome Reception hosted by HACTL, setting the stage for valuable relationship-building. A series of social networking events hosted by Cathay Cargo throughout the program gave delegates the opportunity to connect in meaningful and personal ways—fostering the kind of cross-border collaboration TIACA is known for.
“The Executive Summit has become a unique space for real dialogue and actionable progress,” said Steven Polmans, chair of TIACA. “By bringing together so many global voices in Hong Kong—one of the world’s most critical cargo hubs—we’ve not only sparked important ideas, but also strengthened the bonds across our industry. I’m extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished here.”
This year’s Summit also served as the platform for the 2025 TIACA Awards, including the Hall of Fame, Inspirational Leader, Rising Star, and Sustainability Awards, each recognizing outstanding achievements and emerging talent shaping the future of air cargo.
TIACA also unveiled its e-Commerce White Paper, developed by a cross-industry task force of exceptional leaders in this growth area for the industry. The white paper will be published in the coming weeks.
“The energy at this year’s Executive Summit reflects the optimism and innovation driving our industry forward, with focus on agile adaptation to evolving market conditions,” said Glyn Hughes, TIACA director general. “From digital breakthroughs to sustainability strategies, this was a gathering of momentum—and Hong Kong proved to be the perfect location. We would also like to express our appreciation to Cathay Cargo, HACTL, HKIA and all our sponsors.”
The TIACA Executive Summit is designed as an annual platform for thought leadership and industry alignment. Insights gained from the event—combined with results from TIACA’s annual industry survey—will directly inform the association’s workplan and advocacy priorities in the year ahead.
The next major TIACA global event will be the Air Cargo Forum, set to take place in Abu Dhabi from November 3–6, 2025. The event is expected to draw thousands of delegates for exhibition, conference sessions, and networking opportunities. Exhibit space is now available, and interested organisations are encouraged to contact the TIACA Secretariat.
