The World Aviation Festival (WAF), an aviation technology event, is launching the Ancillary Arena pitch competition, set to take place at the WAF 2026 event in Lisbon this October.
The Ancillary Arena, inspired by TV programmes such as Shark Tank and Dragons’ Den, will give five shortlisted start-ups, entrepreneurs and independent innovators the opportunity to pitch their ancillary revenue concepts to a panel of five senior commercial figures from airlines.
Entries can focus on different aspect of ancillary revenue, such as a unique airline retail or loyalty idea, an untapped revenue stream, or a better way to serve passengers. The judges will ask the presenters questions and share honest feedback with them before choosing the idea they believe has the most real-world commercial potential.
The winner will receive a complimentary 6 sqm exhibition stand at the WAF 2027 event, giving them the chance to showcase their idea to more than 4,500 aviation professionals from around the world.
Daniel Boyle, general manager of transport at Terrapinn, the organiser of WAF, said: “Margins are tight, costs are rising, and airline executives are looking for new ways to grow revenue. The Ancillary Arena will put five innovators directly in front of the people responsible for finding those opportunities. We want to uncover ideas that could change how airlines do business – and help the strongest one take its next step.”
The live final will take place at 13.15 on Thursday 15 October.
To learn more, and to apply, visit the WAF page.
