From passenger experience and innovation to sustainability and leadership, the 2026 Airport Honour Awards finalists showcase the projects and people delivering measurable impact across global aviation.
The finalists for the 2026 Airport Honour Awards have been announced, recognising airports, leaders and emerging businesses that are delivering tangible improvements across the aviation sector.
Taking place on 11 November 2026 as part of the International Airport Summit in Rome, the awards celebrate the projects, technologies and operational initiatives that are making a measurable difference today. While summit discussions will focus on the future of airport operations, the Airport Honour Awards shine a spotlight on organisations that have successfully translated strategy into real-world results.
Across 11 categories, the awards honour excellence in passenger experience, innovation, security, accessibility, sustainability and leadership.
Finalists in the Start-up to Watch Award will also take part in a live five-minute elevator pitch before the winner is announced.
Read on to discover this year’s shortlisted finalists.
The Passenger Experience Award
- Tocumen International Airport
- Malta International Airport
- Vienna International Airport
- Mactan-Cebu International Airport
- Pittsburgh International Airport
- Fraport Slovenija
The Airport Innovation Award
- Vienna International Airport
- Munich International Airport
- Massachusetts Port Authority
- Rajiv Gandhi International Airport – nominated by WAISL
- Miami-Dade International Airport
- iGA Istanbul Airport
The Baggage Innovation Award
- Vancouver International Airport
- Aeroporti di Roma
- Fraport AG
- Pittsburgh International Airport
- Airports Company South Africa
- Munich International Airport
The Airport Security Award
- Groupe ADP
- Hong Kong International Airport
- Aeroporti di Roma
- Massachusetts Port Authority
- Pittsburgh International Airport
- Munich International Airport – nominated by NewSense Engineering GmbH
The Accessible Airport Award
- Manchester Airport
- Aeroporti di Roma
- Carrasco International Airport
- Bangalore International Airport
- Pittsburgh International Airport
- Ezeiza International Airport
The Sustainable Airport Award
- Tallinn Airport (Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport)
- Christchurch International Airport
- Royal Schiphol Group
- Bologna Airport
- Pittsburgh International Airport
- Ports of Jersey
The Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Award
- Aeroporti di Roma
- Heathrow International Airport
- Toronto Pearson International Airport
- Los Angeles International Airport
- JFK International Air Terminal
- Singapore Changi International Airport
IAR’s Airport Leader of the Future
- Aslıhan Guven, Director of Marketing and Communications, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport
- Ayodele Samuel Olatiregun, Director, Finance & Accounts, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria
- Jonathan Lewis, Director of Innovation, Miami-Dade International Airport
- Sonia Elizabeth Reid, Manager, Inclusion & Workplace Culture, Greater Toronto Airport Authority
- Vernon Taylor, Director of People Operations, JFK International Air Terminal
IAR’s Airport Leader of the Year
- Alan Borg, CEO, Malta International Airport
- Eric Dumas, CEO, Egis Airport Operation
- Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director/Chief Executive, FAAN
- Jesus Caballero, CEO, SOF Connect
IAR’s Airport of the Year
- JFK International Air Terminal
- Pittsburgh International Airport
- Munich International Airport
- Tirana International Airport
- Ezeiza International Airport
- Vienna International Airport
The Start-up to Watch Award
- Your Accessible Flight (YAF)
- Bagstage
- First Line Solution Kft.
- Hubway
The breadth and quality of this year’s entries highlight the pace of innovation taking place across the airport sector, with finalists representing every major region of the world and a diverse range of operational priorities.
With such a strong field of contenders across all 11 categories, the judging panel now faces the unenviable task of selecting this year’s winners. From pioneering passenger experience initiatives and sustainability programmes to breakthrough technologies and outstanding leadership, competition is expected to be particularly fierce.
International Airport Review extends its congratulations to all shortlisted airports, organisations and individuals.
We look forward to celebrating their achievements at the International Airport Summit, taking place in Rome from 10-12 November 2026.
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