Istanbul to Welcome Aviation Law Leaders

The aviation industry is entering a period in which technological change, geopolitical uncertainty and increasingly complex commercial relationships are testing the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern air transport. Questions surrounding aircraft leasing and financing, sanctions, liability, artificial intelligence and the integration of new aircraft technologies are becoming increasingly important to airlines, airports, regulators and service providers.

Against this backdrop, Hudson Morgan Williams Solicitors (HMW) will host the International Aviation Law Conference in Istanbul on 6th November 2026. The event will bring together aviation executives, regulators, legal practitioners, academics and specialists for a programme examining the intersection of law, commercial practice, safety and emerging technology.

The published lineup identifies one keynote speaker, two featured speakers and 16 industry experts listed as panelists. Together, they represent perspectives from international aviation governance, airline leadership, civil aviation regulation, legal practice, airport management and technology development.

Keynote and featured speakers

1. Mr Salvatore Sciacchitano, Keynote Speaker

Salvatore Sciacchitano served as President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council from 2020 to 2025. His previous roles include Executive Secretary of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and Deputy Director General of Italy's ENAC civil aviation authority. His tenure at ICAO included work on the organization's modernization agenda and its safety, security and environmental priorities.

2. Ms Güliz Öztürk, Featured Speaker

Güliz Öztürk has served as Chief Executive Officer of Pegasus Airlines since May 2022, following a career in senior commercial roles at the airline, including Chief Commercial Officer from 2010 to 2022. Earlier in her career, she held roles at Turkish Airlines. She also serves as Chair of Global Compact Türkiye.

3. Mr Feyzullah Çınar, Featured Speaker

Feyzullah Çınar began his aviation career as an air traffic controller at DHMI in 2000 and later held management responsibilities at the Türkiye Air Traffic Control Centre. He joined the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in 2024 and has served as Deputy Director General since that year, bringing experience across air traffic operations and civil aviation regulation.

Industry experts and panelists

The conference's wider speaker lineup includes 16 panelists from legal practice, aviation regulation, airlines, airports, international organizations and academia.

• Zafer Armutlu — Partner, Hudson Morgan Williams Solicitors (HMW)
• Lale Kaplan — Founder, Selamoğlu Law Firm
• Prof. Francesca Pellegrino — Full Professor of Air and Space Law, University of Messina
• Tasman Tam — Barrister, Hong Kong
• Tuvana Aras — Lecturer and Doctoral Researcher, Leiden University
• Utku Coşar — Independent Arbitrator; Vice President, LCIA Court
• Mesut Yılmaz — eVTOL Program Director, Gözen Holding
• Munish Khurana — Senior Manager, Business Development, EUROCONTROL
• Mehveş Selamoğlu — Trainee Solicitor, Hudson Morgan Williams
• Prof. Dr. Elmar Giemulla — Attorney at Law, Berlin & New York; Professor of Aviation Law
• Asst. Prof. Dr. Banu Bozkurt — Assistant Professor, Akdeniz University Faculty of Law
• Haydar Yalçın — Vice President, Middle East, International Federation of Airworthiness
• Afgan Bakhishov — Advisor to the Chairman of the Board, Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC
• Selahattin Bilgen — Chief Executive Officer, İGA Istanbul Airport
• Erhan Lokman — R&D Director, Argela Technologies
• Sajid Suleman — Barrister, Outer Temple Chambers, London
• Atılay Batu — Accountable Manager, Corendon Airlines

What the conference will examine

The programme moves from established legal and commercial questions to the regulatory implications of emerging aviation technologies. The morning sessions will address the future of aviation law and the role of arbitration, the impact of sanctions on aviation, and ways to make aviation more cost-effective through smart airports, airline financing, cost management and automation.

The discussion on smart airports and cost-effective airport operations will also draw on the perspective of Selahattin Bilgen, Chief Executive Officer of İGA Istanbul Airport. As the leader of one of the world's largest and most significant aviation hubs, his participation brings an important airport management and infrastructure perspective to discussions on operational efficiency, airport development and the future of airport operations.

The afternoon programme will turn to artificial intelligence in aviation, including liability for AI-related operational failures, insurance implications and regulatory frameworks. Further discussions will consider the integration of drones into global airspace and the development of urban air mobility and eVTOL operations, including certification, licensing, airspace integration, vertiports, passenger rights, safety oversight and liability.

Together, these themes reflect a central challenge for aviation governance: legal and regulatory frameworks must respond to new technologies and business models while maintaining safety, accountability and commercial certainty.

Conference details

Conference Name: International Aviation Law Conference Istanbul 2026
Organizer: Hudson Morgan Williams Solicitors (HMW) London
Gala Dinner Date: 5 November 2026
Gala Dinner Time: 18:00-23:00
Gala Dinner Venue: Feriye, Istanbul (Invitation Only)
Conference Date: 6 November 2026
Conference Time: 08:30-18:00
Conference Venue: Çiragan Palace Kempinski, Istanbul

The conference is organized by Hudson Morgan Williams Solicitors and will bring together participants whose work spans different parts of the aviation ecosystem. As the industry navigates changing technologies, geopolitical pressures and increasingly complex commercial relationships, the discussions in Istanbul will examine how law, regulation and operational practice can adapt to the next phase of global aviation.

Conference Link: Click here

Stay tuned to Avionyz for agenda updates, exclusive interviews and complete coverage before and throughout the International Aviation Law Conference in Istanbul.