Sustainability Symposium

Sustainable Skies: Investing and Financing Our Future

ISTAT is delighted to announce the fifth annual Sustainability Symposium, a complimentary event for ISTAT members, taking place on 28 April 2026.

As the aviation industry stands at a defining moment, this year’s ISTAT Sustainability Symposium brings together leaders, innovators and changemakers committed to shaping a cleaner, smarter and more resilient future for global air transport. Centered on the industry’s transition toward net‑zero flight, the symposium explores how bold thinking, partnership and accelerated action can chart a new course for tomorrow.

Participants will examine what it takes to embrace the future of aviation, from emerging technologies and sustainable fuels to novel business models and cross-sector collaboration. A collective climb toward net‑zero flight underscores that meaningful change is only possible when the entire value chain moves in unison. Attendees will leave with a renewed sense of purpose and a unified vision: to build the future of aviation with intention, responsibility and collective ambition.

2026 ISTAT Sustainability Symposium

9:00 - 10:00	Registration
10:15- 10:30	Welcome Marine Benoit, ISTAT Sustainability Committee Chair & VP Marketing, Aviation Capital Group Peter Barrett, CEO, SMBC Aviation Capital
10:30 - 11:15	Keynote Presentation Stephen Dooley, Professor of Energy Science,Trinity College Dublin and Director, Trinity College Dublin SAF Research Facility at SMBC Aviation Capital
11:15 - 12:00	Panel Discussion: Single European Sky (SES) Could Make Flights Cleaner, Cheaper and Faster. How Do We Make It Happen?
12:00 - 12:45	Panel Discussion: SAF in Focus: Updates, Opportunities and What’s Needed to Succeed
12:45 - 14:00	Lunch
13:15 - 13:35	Tour of Trinity College Dublin SAF Research Facility at SMBC Aviation Capital
13:35 - 13:55	Tour of Trinity College Dublin SAF Research Facility at SMBC Aviation Capital
14:00 - 14:45	Panel Discussion: Green Financing
14:45 - 15:15	Break
15:15 - 16:00	The Final Lever: How Aircraft End-of-Life Completes the Sustainability Equation Moderator: Lionel G. Roques, Executive Director, Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA)
16:00 - 16:45	Panel Discussion: Aviation as a Force for Good Moderator: Annabel Fitzgerald, SVP Sustainability & Corporate Affairs, SMBC Aviation Capital
16:45 - 17:05	Tour of Trinity College Dublin SAF Research Facility at SMBC Aviation Capital
17:05 - 17:25	Tour of Trinity College Dublin SAF Research Facility at SMBC Aviation Capital
16:45 - 18:00	Networking Reception

During the event, delegates will have the opportunity to tour the Trinity College Dublin Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Research Facility. This is a dedicated research facility focused on the development, testing and validation of sustainable aviation fuels. Located at SMBC Aviation Capital’s headquarters, the facility plays a crucial role in supporting the aviation sector’s decarbonization efforts. The lab conducts exhaustive testing of SAF candidates to ensure they meet the rigorous safety standards required for use in existing and future aircraft.

This tour can be added to your registration during the initial registration process. If you have already registered, you may add this event by following the steps below:

Click here.
Enter the email address and password you created for your ISTAT Sustainability Symposium registration.
Navigate to your registration to edit or add additional events.

If you have any questions, please contact registration@istat.org.

In April 2025, ISTAT welcomed nearly 200 delegates from across the aviation community to the fourth annual ISTAT Sustainability Symposium in Dublin. Hosted at Avolon’s headquarters and in partnershp with impact on sustainable aviation, the day featured seven dynamic sessions and 15+ expert speakers exploring the evolving challenges and opportunities in sustainable aviation. Thank you to everyone who joined us.

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