September 19, 2026 • Parijat Sourabh
Aviation is changing faster than the rules governing it
Artificial intelligence is entering airline operations, drones are moving into increasingly complex airspace, new urban air mobility models are emerging, and geopolitical developments continue to affect how aviation businesses operate across borders.
For airlines, regulators, legal teams and other industry stakeholders, these changes are creating a growing set of questions around liability, regulation, compliance, arbitration and commercial risk.
It is against this backdrop that Hudson Morgan Williams Solicitors is hosting the first International Aviation Law Conference in Istanbul on 5-6 November 2026.
The conference will bring together aviation law professionals, regulators, in-house counsel and industry figures for discussions around some of the legal and commercial issues emerging across the sector.
Aviation law is entering unfamiliar territory
The programme moves beyond traditional aviation-law discussions to examine the legal implications of technologies and business models reshaping the industry.
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Aviation law and arbitration: How dispute resolution and arbitration may evolve as aviation becomes more complex.
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Sanctions: How geopolitical restrictions can affect airlines, operators and aviation transactions.
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Artificial intelligence: How existing legal frameworks may respond to increasingly automated aviation systems.
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Drones: How unmanned aircraft can be integrated into increasingly complex airspace.
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Smart airports and airline costs: How technology and operating models could change the economics of aviation.
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Urban air mobility and eVTOL: What new aircraft and operating models could mean for certification, liability and regulation.
Collectively, these issues point to a broader challenge: aviation is evolving quickly, while the legal and regulatory frameworks around it have to adapt at the same time.
A closer look at the people shaping the discussion
The conference will feature Salvatore Sciacchitano, former President of the ICAO Council from 2020 to 2025 and an ICAO Goodwill Ambassador, as keynote speaker. His previous roles include Executive Secretary of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and Deputy Director General of Italy's civil aviation authority, ENAC.
The wider programme also brings together professionals with backgrounds spanning aviation regulation, academia, arbitration and industry. HMW's published speaker profiles include former EUROCONTROL Council President Haydar Yalçın and academics specialising in aviation and EU law.
Why the conference matters
For aviation lawyers and in-house counsel, the conference offers an opportunity to examine how established legal frameworks are responding to technologies and commercial models that are changing the sector.
For regulators and aviation professionals, the discussions provide a broader view of the legal and regulatory questions likely to influence the industry's next phase.
The conference day will take place on 6 November at Çırağan Palace Kempinski, following an invitation only gala dinner at Feriye on 5 November. The programme includes keynote presentations, panel discussions and dedicated networking opportunities.
The official conference website currently lists 20+ speakers, 300+ attendees and a €250 attendee fee.
For professionals working across aviation law, regulation and the wider aviation industry, Istanbul will offer a chance to examine not only where aviation is heading, but how the rules around it may need to evolve alongside it.
Event Details
Event: International Aviation Law Conference Istanbul 2026
Venue: Çırağan Palace Kempinski, Istanbul
Dates: 5-6 November 2026
Official conference website: https://hmwlaw.co.uk/alc2026/
Stay tuned to Avionyz for speaker announcements, agenda updates, exclusive interviews and complete coverage before and throughout the International Aviation Law Conference Istanbul 2026.
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