Tampere Aviation Forum
Tampere Aviation Forum will take place on October 1, 2025, at the Tampere Exhibition & Sports Centre. The one-day seminar will last from 9:00-17:00 and feature a range of keynotes and panels hosted by aviation experts.
On the wings of Industry
This year, the Forum – titled ‘On the wings of Industry’ – will center around aviation’s impact on industrial growth, resilience, and sustainability. Industry experts and stakeholders will come together to explore how regional airports and their development strengthen regional competitiveness, how new innovations like sustainable fuels, electrification, and automation are reshaping the aviation industry, and more.
Tampere Aviation Forum is part of Business Tampere’s ongoing effort to champion the development of the Tampere-Pirkkala airport and position it as a center of passenger transport and logistics in the region.
The event will be held at Subcontracting Fair Finland, a 3-day event that will bring together more than 23,000 professionals and 1,000 exhibitors for the most influential industrial event in the Nordics.
Program
The program is updated as the event approaches. Changes possible.
The event is hosted by Salla Paajanen.
Morning (9–12)
Opening words
Business Tampere
Keynote-speeches
Mantas Vrubliauskas, VP Network Management, airBaltic: The Future of Regional Air Traffic in Europe / The Finnish Market
Mantas Vrubliauskas is VP Network Management at airBaltic, with over 14 years of experience in the airline industry and extensive expertise in route development, fleet planning, and network strategy. In his keynote, he will explore why regional airports are vital for flight connections and accessibility, and how airBaltic is strengthening its role in Finland and Northern Europe.
Dr. Max Hirsh, Managing Director, Airport City Academy: What’s the Future of Aviation — and Why Does it Matter for Tampere?
Dr. Max Hirsh (PhD, Harvard) is a leading global expert on airports and urban development, and pioneer of the Airport Urbanism method. Drawing on 15 years of industry experience, he serves as technical advisor on a variety of airport-led development projects and regional masterplans. His keynote focuses on the role of regional airports in economic development, the effect of climate change and emergence of new technologies, and future opportunities for development of the Tampere-Pirkkala airport and the surrounding region.
Panel discussion 1
Alueelliset lentoasemat mahdollistavat teollisuuden kasvun /Regional Airports as Enablers of Industrial Growth
Participants: Timo Rissanen, Port Experience – Ding Ma, Lappeenrannan kaupunki – Juuso Rönnholm, BusinessOulu – Elisabet Kivimäki, Into Seinäjoki – Markus Sjölund, Tampereen Kauppakamari
Lunch
Afternoon (13–17)
Case-speeches
In the case presentations, experts will share their insights on topics such as value chains, investments, and green fuels in both passenger transport and logistics.
- eSAF, vety & tulevaisuuden polttoaineet / eSAF, hydrogen & the fuels of the future
Panel discussion 2
Tampere-Pirkkala – logistiikan kiitotie teollisuudelle?
Participants: Marita Jaatinen, Business Tampere – Heikki Nikamaa, Cargo Flight Service Finland – AirPro Oy – Eveliina Ojala, DANX
Panel discussion 3
Syöttöliikenne 2.0 – Suomen sisäinen lentoverkosto 2030
Participants: Riku Huhta, Destia Oy – Joonas Nurmi, Helsinki City Copter – Ruut-Maria Rissanen, Pirkanmaan liitto – Seppo Tossavainen, Joensuun kaupunki – Roope Kekäläinen, LYGG
Speakers
Keynote
Dr. Max Hirsh,
Dr. Max Hirsh, Managing Director, Airport City Academy
Keynote
Mantas Vrubliauskas
Mantas Vrubliauskas is VP Network Management at airBaltic
Host
Salla Paajanen
Salla Paajanen is a media professional from Tampere
Riku Huhta
Riku Huhta, MSc (Tech.), works as Team Lead for Strategic Transport Systems at Destia.
Ding Ma
Ding Ma serves as Head of Economic Development for the City of Lappeenranta and General Manager of the Saimaa Airport Foundation.
Markus Sjölund
Markus Sjölund is a Director at the Tampere Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Juuso Rönnholm
Juuso Rönnholm is the Head of Public Affairs and data analysis at BusinessOulu
Timo Rissanen
Timo Rissanen is an experienced tourism and transport expert who, through his company Port Experience, focuses on the development of regional air and cruise traffic.
Joonas Nurmi
Joonas Nurmi is the co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of the airline Aerocom Aviation and Helsinki Citycopter
Eveliina Ojala
Eveliina Ojala serves as the Operations & Linehaul Manager at DANX Oy
Registration
Participation in the event requires registration for the Subcontracting Fair. We will register participants who have registered for the Tampere Aviation Forum also to the Subcontracting Fair.