Canberra Airport will host the 2027 CAPA Airline Leader Summit Australia Pacific, a two-day aviation event bringing together senior airline executives, airport leaders, policymakers and industry stakeholders to discuss the future of air transport across the region.
The event, run by CAPA – Centre for Aviation, part of Aviation Week by Informa, will be held in Canberra in June 2027.
CAPA senior director of events Claudia Kunz said the summit would provide a platform for discussions on network development, sustainability, evolving passenger demand and opportunities in emerging regional and long-haul markets.
“This is an exceptional opportunity to bring together the region’s aviation leaders in the heart of Australia’s capital,” Kunz said.
The Australian Capital Territory recorded more than 4.5 million visitors in the year to September 2025, up four per cent year-on-year, with domestic day and international visitor numbers rising nine per cent and five per cent respectively. Canberra Airport handled more than 2.7 million passengers in 2025.
The airport’s international network has expanded in recent years. Virgin Australia has launched a three-times-weekly service to Bali, its first international operation from Canberra, while Qatar Airways is set to resume a four-times-weekly service to Doha from September, connecting Canberra to a network of more than 170 destinations. Domestically, QantasLink plans to resume four-times-weekly services to Hobart from October, and Link Airways has launched a four-times-weekly service to Launceston.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said hosting the summit reflected confidence in Canberra’s aviation infrastructure and its profile as a destination for major business events. Canberra Airport chief executive officer Stephen Byron said the event was a significant opportunity for the airport.
“It will allow us to showcase the strength of the Canberra market, deepen relationships with airline partners, and support future opportunities to grow capacity, connectivity and aviation services for our region,” Byron said.
