Smart Airport Cities
Smart Airport Cities
Smart Airport Cities Oradea 2026 Airport Cities as Engines for Regional Development 12 November 2026 | Oradea International Airport Organised by the Smart City Association of Brașov, in partnership with Oradea International Airport
Conference concept :
The conference provides a strategic platform for dialogue among public authorities, the aviation industry, investors, logistics stakeholders and the tourism sector. Its aim is to explore how the airport city or aerotropolis concept can become a driver of regional economic growth.
The conference aims to contribute to:
• Improving quality of life through smart urban development
• Attracting high value-added investment
• Strengthening regional air connectivity
• Increasing international tourism flows
• Developing Oradea’s logistics hub in the European context
09:00–10:00 | Official opening Opening remarks
• Florin Birta – Mayor of Oradea
• Mircea Mălan – President of Bihor County Council
• Georg Bardeau – Honorary Consul of the Republic of Austria in Timișoara
• Razvan Horga – Director General, Oradea International Airport
• Miroslav Iabloncsik – Hononary Consul of the Slovak Republic in Oradea
• Malte Hakemann – Coordinator of the Economic Department , Embassy of the Federal Repub;ic of Germany
The opening remarks will highlight the strategic role of airport infrastructure in regional economic development and Oradea’s integration into European mobility and investment networks.
10:00–11:00 | Panel 1 – Economic panel Investment, regional competitiveness and international partnerships
Moderator: Cristian Macedonschi
Keynote: Teodora Suciu – Oradea Local Development Agency (ADLO) Participants
• Malte Hakemann – Coordinator of the Economic Department , Embassy of the Federal Repub;ic of Germany
• Stephan Stürzer – Advantage Austria (TBC)
• Adriana Cioca – President of CCE-R
• Alain Schodts – Director General, BEROCC
• Adam Sobieszkoda – Director General, Romanian-Polish Chamber of Commerce
Key topics
• The role of chambers of commerce in attracting investment
• Developing regional industrial ecosystems
• Nearshoring and industrial relocation in Central Europe
• Airport infrastructure as an economic accelerator
11:00–11:30 | Coffee break
11:30–13:00 | Panel 2 – Aviation panel Air connectivity and regional development
Moderator: Valentin Iordache
Introductory presentations
• Răzvan Horga – Director General, Oradea International Airport: Introducing Oradea Airport
• Călin Gologan – Elektra Solar: The future of aviation and the electric aircraft Participants
• Jakub Małecki – General Manager, LOT Polish Airlines Romania
• Monica Dobrutchi – Lufthansa Group Romania
• Cristian Anghel – CEO TAROM
• Iulian Scorpan -CEOf HySky
• Claus Grunow – General Director of Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport
• Andrei Gavrilovici – CEO Interparking Romania
Key topics
• The role of regional airports in economic development
• Air routes and their impact on investment
• Integrating airports into smart urban ecosystems
• Cooperation between airports, local authorities and industry
13:00–14:00 | Lunch break and networking
14:00–15:00 | Panel 3 – Industrial & Cargo World Logistics hubs and airport-supported industrial development
Moderator: Mădălina Keresztely – Intermodal & Logistic Magazine Participants
• Sorina Florescu – EU Shipment Romania
• Ronald Binkofski – CTP Romania (TBC)
• Alexander Klein – Plexus (TBC)
• Dr Robert Feulner – Stiel Romania (TBC)
• Florin Ianchiș – Salesianer (TBC)
• Bart Dobbelaere – VPK Packaging
• Mihai Tudorică – Villion Batteries
• Andrei Botis – Green Building Council
• Ionut Muntean – DEKRA Romania
15:00–15:15 | Coffee break
15:15–16:30 | Panel 4 – Tourism development Air connectivity as a multiplier for tourism
Moderator: Călin Ile – FIHR
Keynote: Alexandru Chira – Director, Visit Oradea
Participants
• Alin Grigore – Director General, MEDAT
• Representative of Băile Felix
• Cristian Sallai – German National Tourist Board (DZT)
• Achim Wehrmann – DRV German Travel Association (TBC)
• Eike Knall – General Aviation & Tourism
Key topics
• Air connectivity as a driver of development for emerging destinations
• Positioning Oradea in international tourism markets
• Cooperation with DACH markets
• City breaks and spa tourism, with a focus on Băile Felix
• European models of regional tourism development The panel supports the goal of increasing tourist flows from DACH markets to Transylvania and western Romania.
16:30–17:30 | Local product tasting A tasting of craft beer and local wines.
Strategic objectives
The conference aims to position Oradea as:
• A regional air connectivity node
• A platform for industrial and logistics investment
• A model for airport-centred urban development
• An emerging tourism destination in Central Europe
• A competitive regional logistics hub
Registration : https://forms.gle/sFAAQgpAAuhcde3i9