Yael Altman and Tami Elshtain. Photo: Passport News The longest period of instability. "This is the longest period of instability experienced since the founding of the state, a post-corona war, but we know what has been and want to look ahead," opened Tami Elshtain and Yael Altman, founders of the ITMF business aviation conference at the seventh annual conference. The Passport Group is a media partner at the conference.
Photo: Passport News
Photo: Passport News
Photo: Passport News"We see schedules stabilizing, airlines returning, and organizations returning to planning, budgeting, and renewed preparation for travel management within organizations," they said optimistically.
"In the end, we are here to stay and advance, whether through technology or breakthrough developments in the industry. We are very pleased that everyone came, and who knows - maybe next year the conference will be held in Dubai, in a more global atmosphere" added Yael. "The suppliers and the leading market figures who came today are proof that anything is possible," added Tami.
Among the attendees at the conference held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Tel Aviv were Yael Barzilai, CEO of United Airlines Israel and company staff, Dafna Ben Moshe, head of Lufthansa Group in Israel and an extensive team; Benedetto Mencaroni Foiani, ITA's regional manager in Israel and an extensive team; Revital Ben Natan, CEO of Ofakim, Kobi Zussman, IATA Israel CEO, Michal Stein, head of global sales at El-Al, Tali Laufer, head of the business division at El-Al, alongside many other aviation and tourism industry leaders in Israel.
Yael Barzilai. Photo: Passport News
Benedetto Mencaroni Foiani and Dafna Ben Moshe. Photo: Passport News
Jan Polman and Roee Cohen. Photo: Passport NewsNumerous airlines and sponsors at the conference included Emirates, planning to renew its flights to Israel in the upcoming year, Air Europa, the Italian airline ITA planning to resume flights to Israel in early January 2026, and other airlines and tourism companies such as Ofakim, Signal Tours, among many others.
"We also see the return of all global players to the market. We are here with airlines we never believed we'd see," said entrepreneurs Yael and Tami.
"Airlines Can't Meet Demand"
IATA Israel CEO, Kobi Zussman, presented the far-reaching implications of the new U.S. tariffs on the aviation world and discussed supply chain issues of aircraft and engines which impact production: "In the end, airlines cannot meet the high demand for flights, and occupancy rates are at their peak."
Zussman also spoke about the situation in Israel: "Aviation and political instability do not go hand in hand," he stated. "In the long term, it is impossible to sustain routine amidst threats endangering aircraft. Airlines need to know when planes take off and land. It is challenging to operate aviation in a war atmosphere. We keep our fingers crossed that the ceasefire holds and does not surprise us negatively."
Photo: Passport NewsHowever, the ITMF conference isn't just about aviation this year, but also includes impressive hotel industry representation: Pazit Shabi, Global Sales Manager for Hilton Worldwide in Israel. "It is amazing to have incredible support from the Israeli audience who know the brand, love it, and continue to travel. I think resilience is what holds us more than anything. The world looks at us with admiration, discovering new destinations and being present in every destination."