The Austrian tour operator and group travel specialist Eurotours, together with Kitzbühel Tourism and the event agency element3, has been awarded the contract for the international prestige event World Airline Ski Championships (WASC).
„Preparations have been in full swing for months and are nearing their conclusion. The entire team is involved with maximum commitment and tremendous passion,“ said Eurotours Managing Director Maik Gruba. After last year’s event in Japan, the international airline ski community is now making a stop in Tyrol before the championships continue in Canada in 2027. „It is with great pleasure and honor that Kitzbühel once again welcomes the World Airline Ski Championships after 2018 and is delighted to greet almost 800 winter sports enthusiasts in the Gamsstadt,“ said Dr. Viktoria Veider-Walser of Kitzbühel Tourism.
Up to 800 participants from a total of 43 airlines in 27 countries are expected in Kitzbühel from March 22nd to 27th, 2026, including pilots, crew members, and airline employees from around the world. Approximately 60 percent of the athletes are traveling from the USA. The international field of competitors is as diverse as the airline industry itself: roughly 40 percent women and 60 percent men, ranging in age from 20 to 85 – from ambitious young talents to the oldest registered participant at 85 – all of whom have been preparing intensively for the competitions for months with their own training programs. Among the airlines represented are ANA, Austrian Airlines, Delta, Edelweiss, FedEx, KLM, Lufthansa, Qantas, SWISS, and many more. The renowned event series is organized by the International Airlines Ski Federation. Kitzbühel previously hosted this major international event in 2018.
Festive opening for the public
A first social highlight awaited participants and guests on Sunday, March 22, 2026: Starting at 7:00 p.m., the Welcome Parade of all participants marched through Kitzbühel's town center – a colorful symbol of international unity. Afterwards, the official opening ceremony took place in Kitzbühel's town park – both events were open to the public, both locals and visitors from around the world.
Guests are invited to attend the races on the following days and the daily award ceremonies free of charge, allowing them to experience the sporting achievements live. The program includes slalom and giant slalom races for men and women, parallel giant slalom in snowboarding, and Nordic events ranging from sprints and distance races to relays. Training sessions, qualifications, and finals ensure excitement on all competition days. After the sporting events, the action moves to the K3 KitzKongress. Meetings, awards ceremonies, a themed party, and the gala event provide the social backdrop, making the Airline Ski World Championships a unique combination of sport, networking, and international exchange.
Expertise, setting & cooperation at the highest level
Eurotours, Kitzbühel Tourism, and element3 are combining their respective strengths to implement the event. With its many years of expertise, Eurotours guarantees the professional organization and seamless execution of this international event, once again underscoring its competence as an Austrian tour operator and specialist in group travel. Whether for incentive trips, corporate, club, school, and university tours, or collaborations with B2B partners – thanks to decades of experience, the Eurotours team combines tourism know-how with professional planning and a keen understanding of participants' needs. At the same time, Kitzbühel provides the perfect backdrop for the 2026 Airline Ski World Championships: not only because of its renowned, World Cup-tested slopes, but also due to its unique status as an attractive travel destination. Kitzbühel Tourism has stood for quality, reliability, and hospitality for decades – values that will also be evident at the 2026 Airline Ski World Championships.
The overall sporting responsibility lies with the Kitzbühel-based event agency element3, which, with years of experience in winter sports, professionally manages all competitions on all days of the event. The high level of participation, far exceeding expectations, also underscores the appeal of the Airline Ski World Championships within the global airline community. By hosting the 65th World Airline Ski Championships, Kitzbühel once again reinforces its position as an internationally sought-after winter sports destination and a flagship for the region – a stage that uniquely combines sporting excellence and global networking.
Further information and ongoing updates can be found at airlineski.com.