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.