Keynote: Rethinking Aircraft Design for a New Era of Efficiency

As the aviation industry faces mounting pressure to decarbonise, true transformation lies not only in alternative fuels, but in reimagining the aircraft itself. In this keynote, Paul Touw—entrepreneur, engineer, and CEO of Otto Aviation—will explore how bold thinking and breakthrough design can deliver step-change improvements in efficiency and sustainability. Paul will share how Otto Aviation is pioneering the use of transonic super-laminar technology to drastically reduce drag and fuel consumption, offering a new blueprint for what efficient flight can look like. With a background in building innovative ventures and a passion for disrupting legacy systems, Paul’s perspective offers a powerful challenge to conventional aerospace thinking. This session sets the stage for the panel that follows—shifting the conversation from fuel alternatives to the airframes and engineering advances that will shape the future of flight.