Adelaide has been chosen to host the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Australia Pacific in both 2026 and 2028, a move that cements South Australia’s position as a serious player in global aviation and business events.
The announcement, made at the 2025 summit in Cairns, marks a return to the city for one of the industry’s key strategic forums. The 2022 summit held in Adelaide drew hundreds of senior figures from airlines, airports, tourism boards, travel suppliers and finance firms. Now, the event is coming back—twice.
Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison welcomed the news, calling it a big win for South Australia’s visitor economy. “Locking in the CAPA Airline Leader Summit for not one, but two years, is a huge coup,” she said. “It’s a reflection of our growing global reputation and will keep us front of mind for key decision makers across aviation and tourism.”
The summit, hosted by the CAPA – Centre for Aviation, will bring together more than 350 delegates from across the Asia Pacific and beyond. Past attendees have included C-suite executives from global carriers, international airport heads, travel tech leaders, and senior government officials. Discussions cover everything from routes and infrastructure to climate targets and consumer demand.
Claudia Kunz, Events Director at CAPA, said the return to Adelaide followed the strong reception of the 2022 edition. “This strategic partnership reflects our confidence in Adelaide’s growing importance in the region,” she said. “The city’s infrastructure, accessibility, and culture make it an ideal setting for high-level dialogue.”
Brenton Cox, Managing Director of Adelaide Airport, said international arrivals were picking up, and the summit would give the State further exposure. “Adelaide is currently experiencing strong passenger growth, particularly for international services,” he said. “Events like this help us strengthen relationships with carriers and airport partners globally.”
South Australia is currently seeing more international airlines operating routes into Adelaide than at any point since the pandemic. All carriers that were flying before COVID-19 have now returned, and new players are entering the mix too. Among them are United Airlines, launching direct flights from San Francisco to Adelaide in December 2025, and Air New Zealand, which will begin seasonal services from Christchurch in October.
Other international services scheduled into Adelaide include:
- Indonesia AirAsia (Denpasar)
- Air New Zealand (Auckland, Christchurch)
- Qatar Airways (Doha)
- Singapore Airlines (Singapore)
- Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur)
- Fiji Airways (Nadi)
- Jetstar (Denpasar)
- China Southern Airlines (Guangzhou, seasonal)
- Emirates (Dubai)
- Qantas (Auckland, seasonal)
- Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong, seasonal)
The announcement is being seen by many in the tourism sector as part of a broader effort to boost the State’s economic and trade prospects through air connectivity. With growing links to Asia, North America and the Pacific, South Australia is pushing for greater recognition as a destination that offers both business value and visitor appeal.
Minister Bettison said the benefits would extend well beyond the summit itself. “This puts South Australia on the map for decision makers in tourism, education, trade and defence,” she said. “They’ll see firsthand the value of investing in our State.”
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