ACI-NA Centerlines Live

Airport Council International - North America

Centerlines Lands in Fort Worth

I am thrilled to be here in Fort Worth with you! The 2017 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition brings all sectors of the airport industry together to provide airport decision-makers and their peers from across the globe with insights on the latest trends and strategies that advance the industry. I hope ya’ll are ready for this premier event!

Throughout today, attendees will continue to participate in our pre-conference committee meetings and workshops featuring updates and educational presentations. Later, attendees will get to experience the grand opening of our exhibition hall. This year’s sold-out exhibition hall is the largest in our history with 290 booths to explore!

You don’t want to miss the 2017 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition, filled to capacity with many educational sessions and opportunities to network with industry professionals from across North America. This conference also provides a chance for attendees to gather here in Fort Worth and learn about the latest updates in aviation that will impact the airport industry in North America. We are glad you’re here, it’s show time!

For those watching along at home, our daily issue of Centerlines LIVE will keep you up to speed.

Enjoy!
Bill Vanecek
Chair, ACI-NA

 
Paradies Lagardere
ABM Industries, Inc
Sunday's Agenda at a Glance

7:30 AM – 7:00 PM: Check-in / Registration - Level 100 Concourse 

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Continental Breakfast
Fort Worth Convention Center – 200 Level Concourse
Omni Fort Worth – Fort Worth Ballroom Foyer (Level 2) – For Workshop Participants Only 

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Committee Meetings and Pre-Conference Workshops (see agenda for details)

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch
Fort Worth Convention Center – 200 Level Concourse
Omni Fort Worth – Fort Worth Ballroom Foyer (Level 2) – For Workshop Participants Only 

2:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Longhorn Photo Opportunity (Level 100 Concourse)

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Press Office Open (Room: 102) 

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Exhibition Hall Grand Opening (Exhibit Hall)

 
Pittsburgh's Cassotis Receives the ACI-NA Visionary Leadership Award
Yesterday, ACI-NA announced that Christina Cassotis, CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, is this year's recipient of the ACI-NA Excellence in Visionary Leadership Award. The award was announced during the 2017 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Fort Worth, TX.

"ACI-NA is pleased to recognize the distinguished leadership of Christina Cassotis with the 2017 Excellence in Visionary Leadership Award," said ACI-NA's President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. "Over the last year, Christina has significantly increased air service options, improved the airport’s passenger experience, and elevated the role of the airport in its community and the broader aviation system. Her commitment to professional development and innovative thinking has strongly positioned the airport authority as a leader within the Pittsburgh community."

Visit http://aci-na.org/newsroom/press-releases/pittsburgh%E2%80%99s-cassotis-receives-aci-na-visionary-leadership-award to view the full article online.

 
Yesterday's Happenings

Many attendees participated in issue-specific workshops, committee meetings, and conference educational sessions.

 

 

Left to Right: ACI-NA Chair Bill Vanecek (BUF) recognizes outgoing ACI-NA Board members Leland Burch (GSP), Ken Waschuk (YQR), and Mario Diaz (HAS) with ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin Burke for their outstanding service to North American airports.

 
Under Construction!

Are you ready to see the sold-out exhibition hall? This year's exhibitors are stepping up their booth game ahead of tonight's exhibit hall grand opening! Visit the exhibitor map in the mobile app or visit our live show floor plan to maximize your time on our show floor.

 
Meet Your Keynotes

GENERAL SESSION 1: KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Rich Karlgaard
Editor-at-Large and Global Futurist
Forbes
Award-winning entrepreneur-turned-publisher, columnist, author and television commentator Rich Karlgaard will provide his unique insights on the economic and investment trends driving the global business marketplace and how the future of travel fits into the big picture. 

GENERAL SESSION 2:  REDEFINING THE AIRPORT CUSTOMER EXPEREINCE
Shane O’Flaherty
National Director, Hospitality & Transportation
Microsoft
Shifting traveler profiles and expectations for more connected experiences, often set across industries, is raising the bar throughout the travel journey. Advances in technology-- e.g. Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Services, Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, and Virtual/Mixed Reality—are opening up a tremendous opportunity to drive revenue, lower operating costs, increase efficiencies, empower employees and create new business models in ways we only talked about in the past. The future is already here.
 
Learn how these and other technologies can help you better address customer and business needs to transform the customer journey and drive business results. Learn how to approach these disruptive opportunities in flexible ways to "future proof" yourself.
 
GENERAL SESSION 3: 
Doug Parker
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
American Airlines Group
Doug Parker led the efforts to form the current iteration of American Airlines – the world’s largest airline in terms of revenue, passengers, employees and aircraft. Mr. Parker has achieved impressive financial and operational results applauded by industry analysts, customers and employees alike. He is a strong advocate for reforming the U.S. air traffic control system and addressing the massive subsidies he says three Middle East airlines receive from their home governments. But what advice does he have for North American airports to ensure their success as the airline industry continues to evolve?

 
Aviation Headlines

Just because you’re at a conference doesn’t mean the world stops. Centerlines LIVE will continue providing the latest industry news while Centerlines Today is on hiatus. This section will feature the latest industry news so you don’t miss a beat while networking with old friends and new connections. 

>> Abbotsford airport expansion to double seating capacity
The terminal building at Abbotsford International Airport will see its seating capacity double once a major expansion is completed next year. Airport general manager Parm Sidhu said the immediate focus is on expanding the shell of the current building, with interior improvements coming after. Read the full article >> 

>> Qatar Airways to launch cargo flights to Pittsburgh International
Starting next month, Pittsburgh International Airport will offer international cargo flight service based out of the Persian Gulf — a major benefit to the region's manufacturers, airport officials say. Read the full article >>

>> DFW Airport lands second Icelandic carrier in two weeks with arrival of Icelandair
Icelandair announced Thursday that it plans to start service out of DFW International Airport next May, giving North Texas travelers another option for nonstop flights to popular tourist destination Reykjavik. Read the full article >>

>> Industry panel recommends roll back of aviation safety rules
An influential industry committee recommended Thursday that the Federal Aviation Administration eliminate or scale back dozens of safety rules, including one on airline pilot qualifications. Read the full article >>

>> JetBlue, American Airlines want to increase flights from S. Florida to Cuba
JetBlue Airways Corp. and American Airlines Group Inc. are seeking to increase flights to Cuba from South Florida even as the Trump administration wants to limit travel to the island nation. Read the full article >> 

>> Drones playing critical role in hurricane relief efforts
Drones have been playing an "invaluable" role in Hurricane Irma relief efforts, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Friday. After Florida and the Caribbean suffered widespread destruction from Irma’s winds and floodwaters, the FAA issued 132 airspace authorizations for drones to help with recovery and response efforts. Read the full article >> 

>> Air Canada, West Jet 'upsizing' planes as business soars at Sudbury Airport
The Greater Sudbury Airport is seeing its travel numbers take off this year, posting a 29 percent increase in the number of travelers using the terminal.Read the full article >> 

>> Comox Valley Airport sets new traveler record
It was a record breaking month for the Comox Valley Airport. In August the airport saw 43,072 travelers. Its previous record was just over 42,000, which was set in August 2016. Read the full article >>

>> New passenger record set at Watertown airport
The Watertown International Airport has cleared the 5,000 passenger mark for August, setting a new record in the process. Read the full article >>

 
Download the Conference App
 
   
Make the most of your ACI-NA Conference experience by downloading the ACI-NA Conferences app on your smartphone or tablet. Sponsored by CH2M, the ACI-NA Conferences app lets you search the participant list, connect with attendees, customize your agenda, and much more!
 
Get the app now by searching "ACI-NA Conferences" in the App Store or Google Play.

To access the ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition App:
Username: Email used to register for the conference
Password: airports 
 
Airport Lounge Development
Join the Twitter Conversation
 
   
Be sure to tweet comments and photos leading up to the 2017 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition. Mention @airportscouncil and use the hashtag #airports17

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/aci-annualConference/articles/index.asp?aid=461453&issueID=56943 to view the full article online.

 
Thank You to the 2017 Annual Conference Sponsors
 
2017 Agenda Highlights

Check out the full 2017 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition agenda here.

The Changing World of Slots and What It Means for Airports: 300 airports around the world are designated as constrained with two levels of management –facilitated coordination and outright slot control. Whether your airport is a small-hub or the largest hub, access to facilitated or slot-controlled airports is a key issue for domestic and international air service. Historically, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has controlled the seasonal slot allocation process using its Worldwide Slot Guidelines (WSG). ACI is now working to bring change to the slot process and the management of slot allocation. Join this session to learn the latest updates on the WSG Strategic Review and its implications for U.S. and Canadian airport operators.

Risk Management: Planning Before a Crisis Occurs: Crisis management is a hot topic for airports, but often it only relates to managing crisis communications or maintaining or restoring operations. What about the other aspects of crisis management? This panel will explore various risks that aren’t necessarily at the forefront of planning—such as legal/liability and reputational impacts. What contracts can you put in place before an event occurs, and what insurance coverage and services can help you respond to a crisis?

Airport Capital Program Showcase: The last several years have been exciting for planning and development of North American airports featuring innovative terminal, airside, and landside projects at airports of all sizes. Whether these projects have focused on the rehabilitation and re-lifeing existing infrastructure or providing entirely new facilities, there are lessons to be learned from these capital projects.

Cyber Resilience: Safeguarding the Airport: Cyber threats are a complex and ever present risk in today’s operating environment. No one is completely safe from cyber attacks, including airports. Desktop computers, servers, and network devices are not the only vulnerable technologies, as cyber attacks come in many different forms. Every airport should have a cybersecurity program as an executive management goal to protect against risks to physical infrastructure, digital assets, and brand reputation.

Community Outreach Programs; Make Your Airport an Inclusive Representative of its Community: In this session learn about alternative talent pools that can help make your airport a hero in your community! Partnering with local and national partners, airport operators are establishing programs that support workforce development and promote a healthy community. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear about unique programs that provide underserved communities in the United States and Canada with needed resources while benefiting airport operators, airlines and concessionaires.

Sustainability’s Competitive Edge – How Sustainability Strengthens the Airport-Airline Partnership: Mutual success requires that airports and airlines work together towards sustainability. Learn the secrets for an effective partnership from airport CEOs and airline representatives that are working together, using the multiple facets of sustainability (economic viability, operational efficiency, natural resource conservation and social responsibility or EONS). Don’t miss this opportunity to identify the areas where your airport and airlines can better coordinate to achieve sustainability goals, including bringing bio fuels on-line, electrification of ground support equipment and obtaining better operating results at lower costs.

Flight Plan Uncertain? Making Sense of the Evolving Regulatory Landscape: The regulatory landscape for airports in the near to mid-term future appears hazy, particularly in the United States. Get the latest information you need to adapt to regulatory changes afoot in the U.S. and Canada and be prepared for what’s coming in the future. This transnational session will feature views from both sides of the border on topics ranging from safety to finance to air traffic modernization.

Privatization – The Good, The Bad and The Unknown: Airport privatization and public-private partnerships have been in the news as possible solutions to U.S. and Canadian infrastructure funding challenges. Could "selling off" public assets provide a huge windfall to fund infrastructure needs outside of aviation? What are the pros and cons of such programs for North American airports and their communities? Learn from international experts what you and your elected representatives and other government officials need to know.

Aviation Security – Navigating the New Threatscape: In close coordination with regulators such as TSA and Transport Canada, airports work to develop risk-based, intelligence-driven measures to mitigate ever-evolving threats to civil aviation while maintaining operational efficiency. Leveraging industry/government partnerships and working collaboratively to assess countermeasures and technologies are critical elements in enhancing aviation security. The ability to tailor security measures to unique geographical layouts and operational environments is critical as airports need the ability to nimbly shift limited security resources between locations to address migrating threats. This session will provide an opportunity to gain insight from senior TSA and Transport Canada representatives about transformational initiatives to address threats and preserve the vitality of the aviation system.

 
2017 Annual Conference Reading List

 

The latest issue of Centerlines, ACI-NA’s flagship magazine, is here! Each topic and article was carefully selected to position 2017 annual conference attendees ahead of the curve. Read the articles below or stop by registration to pick up a copy!

A Brand-New Energy—A Look at the Industry’s Emerging Leaders: ACI-NA profiled 20 first time airport directors who have assumed their roles within the last three years. Explore how their new ways of approaching industry challenges are paving new paths forward for the next generation of airport industry leaders.

Post-Crisis Transformations: Through collaboration, risk-based approaches, and reliance on credible intelligence, airports continue to ensure that the safety and security of the traveling public remains their top priority, while facing new global threats to aviation security.

Energy, Efficiency and Sustainability Working Together: Airports are taking new approaches to longstanding sustainability priorities, and leveraging airport resources to contribute to the success of their communities. Learn how airports are tackling sustainability to improve airport operations.

Airports Cater to Great Expectations: Explore how airports are developing new and innovative approaches to airport passenger amenities, while continually working with their concessionaire partners to enhance the passenger experience and strengthen the bottom line.

 
Naylor Association Solutions
Naylor Association Solutions
ACI-NA Annual Conference & Exhibition
Tampa Convention Center
333 S. Franklin Street,Tampa, FL 33602