Aidan Flanagan, Director of Airport Capacity & Operations at ACI EUROPE, has been named as a member of the judging panel for the Aviation Industry Awards 2026, bringing expertise in airport capacity, operational performance, aviation safety and European aviation policy to Ireland’s benchmark programme for aviation excellence and innovation.

Flanagan joined ACI EUROPE in September 2018, where he is responsible for coordinating the organisation’s work on slot allocation and developing a strategic approach to airport capacity optimisation. His remit also covers airside operations, safety, air traffic management and operational performance across the European airport sector.

He coordinates the work of ACI EUROPE’s Technical, Operations & Safety Committee, working closely with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, EUROCONTROL and the European Commission on issues affecting airport operations, aviation safety and capacity.

This combination of policy, regulatory and operational expertise gives Flanagan a broad perspective on the challenges facing commercial aviation, particularly as airports seek to optimise capacity while maintaining safety, efficiency and high standards of operational performance.

Before joining ACI EUROPE, Flanagan worked as Senior Policy Manager at CLECAT, the European association representing freight forwarders. His earlier career also included public affairs consulting, where he advised clients across aviation and the wider transport sector, as well as experience at the European Commission.

His background across European institutions, aviation policy and airport operations provides a perspective relevant to categories recognising achievements in airport management, airline safety, aviation technology, aviation innovation and operational excellence.

The Aviation Industry Awards, launched in 2014, spans 25 categories covering areas including Aviation Company of the Year, airport management, aviation innovation, airline safety, aviation technology and Aviation Rising Star. Flanagan joins fellow panellists Adam Bouchard of Nashville International Airport, John Drysdale of Annadale Aviation, Kieran O’Brien of KPMG Ireland, Samantha Harding of SILC, Dr Kyriakos Kourousis of the University of Limerick and Michael Treacy of Enterprise Ireland.

The awards gala will take place on 3 December 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin Airport.

Visit the official Aviation Industry Awards website to explore the categories and subscribe to the newsletter for the latest awards and event updates.