ACI-NA Centerlines Live
 
This Year’s Conference: A Brilliant Success!


Thank You for Attending the 2017 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition!

Following several days of jam-packed thought leadership, educational sessions, and enhanced networking, the 2017 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition came to an end on September 20 with a celebratory closing night event at Billy Bob's Texas. This year’s conference was a brilliant success with 2,117 registered attendees and 273 exhibit booths!


If you missed any of the Centerlines LIVE coverage, check out the newsletters online: Pre-Show, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Please see below a recap of our session highlights! Coverage of the Keynote Presentations and General Sessions are included in the onsite issues of Centerlines LIVE, linked above. 

 
Paradies Lagardere
ABM Industries, Inc
The Changing World of Slots and What It Means for Airports
"It impacts nearly all airports in USA and Canada." This bold statement by Michael Landguth at "The Changing World of Slots and What It Means for Airports" session on Monday referred to slots. With a strategic review in the works for the Worldwide Slot Guidelines (WSG), this comment by the President & CEO of Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, held a lot of weight.
 
Flight Plan Uncertain? Making Sense of the Evolving Regulatory Landscape
When you have an FAA representative in the room, and she is open to answering any question you throw her way, you can imagine the conversations are bound to be interesting. That was the case at the "Flight Plan Uncertain? Making Sense of the Evolving Regulatory Landscape" session on Tuesday, with panelists Daniel-Robert Gooch, President of the Canadian Airports Council; Pablo Nüesch, Partner, Spiegel & McDiarmid LLLP; Winsome Lenfert, Acting Associate Administrator for Airports at Federal Aviation Administration; and moderator Charles Everett, Deputy Director of Aviation at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.
 
Risk Management: Planning Before a Crisis Occurs
"A crisis can be anything that can impact your reputation," said Matt Barkett of Dix & Eaton, getting the conversation started at the "Risk Management : Planning Before a Crisis Occurs" session on Monday that was moderated by Michael Yip, Vice President of Risk Management at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. It could be an active shooter, weather-related, cyber theft or any other event that presents a "real and serious threat" to your brand, said Barkett.
 
Cyber Resilience: Safeguarding the Airport
"Put cybersecurity on your agenda before it becomes your agenda." This parting comment shared by RJ Steenstra at the Cyber Resilience session perfectly couldn’t have wrapped it up any better. Steenstra, who is President and CEO at Fort McMurray Airport Authority in Alberta, moderated this session and started it out with a chilling tale about a cyber attack at Fort McMurray that has had the entire team there tackling the question, "What can you do to build resilience in your airport?"
 
Airport Capital Program Showcase
The interest level was through the roof for the "Capital Development - Airport Capital Program Showcase" session on Monday. It was standing-room only. Each of the panelists was there to share some insight on recent projects, as well as how they were able to alleviate potential challenges. The moderator, Howard Eng, President and CEO, Greater Toronto Airports Authority, let the panelists do most of the talking, but preceded the conversations by saying, "Capital projects are critical and the lifeblood of airports."
 
Privatization - The Good, The Bad and The Unknown
"For airports, privatization is not an all or nothing solution," said moderator Joyce Carter, starting off the discussions at the "Privatization - The Good, The Bad and The Unknown" session on Tuesday. The session, despite being later in the day, was standing-room-only, illustrating how important this topic is in the industry right now. The million-dollar question? "What’s the right path forward?" Carter had a variety of questions for the panelists, designed to help attendees understand the issues -- from different perspectives, airport sizes and locations.
 
Airport Lounge Development
Synect
Get Your Photos

 

Some of the photos from the 2017 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition are available for download, and more are on their way soon. Visit ACI-NA’s Flickr page to browse this year’s photos. See the photos now >>

 
Today's Aviation Headlines

>> House Democrats sink bill with FAA extension, hurricane tax relief
Legislation to reauthorize Federal Aviation Administration programs and provide tax relief for victims of recent hurricanes failed on the House floor Monday after Democrats rejected it. Read the full article >>

>> Elmira/Corning Regional Airport $58 million renovation undergoes demolition
The revitalization of the Elmira/Corning Regional Airport continues. As part of the $58 million dollar grant, the renovations are to be completed in 13 months from now. The airport is now moving full speed ahead. Read the full article >>

>> Supreme Court cancels hearing on previous Trump travel ban
The Supreme Court on Monday abruptly canceled oral arguments on President Trump’s travel ban, signaling the beginning of the end for a politically charged legal case that could have produced a blockbuster ruling on the clash between presidential power and claims of religious discrimination. Read the full article >>

>> Allegiant Air cabin fills with smoke in Fresno; airline cites mechanical issue
Smoke filled the cabin of an Allegiant Air jet after it landed at a California airport on Monday, forcing coughing passengers to cover their faces with shirts and firefighters to board the plane, authorities said. None of the 150 passengers or six crew members was injured. Read the full article >>

>> World first for airline replacing diesel-chugging tugs with eco-friendly alternative
British Airways has become the first airline in the world to introduce remote controlled devices to push back aircraft across its short-haul operation. Read the full article >>

>> DOT grants full permit to Norwegian UK
LCC Norwegian has received full approval from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for its UK subsidiary, Norwegian UK (NUK), to start transatlantic operations. Read the full article >>

>> What do you do when grounded at the Charlotte airport? Get up and dance the night away
A woman’s video showing her groovin’ down with workers and fliers after getting stuck overnight at Charlotte Douglas International Airport has gone viral. Read the full article >> 

>> MSP airport approves dozens of new restaurants at marathon meeting
Travelers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport will soon have more than two dozen new menus to choose from, as officials approved a new slate of restaurants. Read the full article >> 

>> United Airlines to let passengers on overbooked flights bid on price to give up seats
In response to the notorious dragging of a seated passenger in April, United Airlines is set to launch a program that lets passengers on overbooked flights make a bid on how much compensation they will take to give up their seats. Read the full article >>

 
Thank You to the 2017 Annual Conference Sponsors
 
Save the Date for 2018!


 
Naylor Association Solutions
Naylor Association Solutions
 

 

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