The 30th IATA Ground Handling Conference concluded in Bangkok, Thailand, May 24 following several days of panel discussions and networking opportunities in addition to an exhibition.
It was announced that 771 delegates attended the IGHC, held at the Centara Grand Hotel and Convention Center, while 36 companies exhibited.
Reflecting on the conference, Nick Careen, senior vice president - airport, passenger, cargo and security at IATA, noted a couple key takeaways from the event.
"I realized that I'm not alone in my passion for this business," he said. "It was clear. You could see the thoughtfulness in the interactions in all our presentations in terms of where we need to go in the industry, which is very exciting and something we need to grab a hold of and continue to build on.
"We're on the right track."
Additionally, Careen noted it was vital for the industry to execute existing initiatives and focus on advancing technology, innovation, safety, human capital and automation.
"We really need to get into the opportunities that exist and the technology that's already out there, and start investing in the ramp for obvious benefits," Careen said.
As the show came to a close, IATA announced the 2018 Ground Handling Conference will take place in Doha, Qatar.
