The ACI-NA team and I will be landing in Fort Worth this week to host the 2017 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition. We’re excited to put on an excellent event and cannot wait to show what Fort Worth has in store for you. This year, we will once again be the world’s largest "for airports, by airports" event, with an even more robust agenda. The airport industry faces new challenges each day ranging from crisis management and emerging security threats to adapting to new technology. This year’s annual conference is jam packed with sessions that will address these challenges and give attendees feedback from experts who have successfully pushed past those obstacles. ACI-NA has worked around the clock to ensure everyone’s time in Fort Worth is conducive to their airport’s continuous success in the future. We have a lot planned for you, so prepare to learn, network and have fun! Don’t want to miss out? On-site registration will be available at the Fort Worth Convention Center. I look forward to seeing you all in Fort Worth! Kevin M. Burke President and CEO, ACI-NA

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. 

The 2017 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition is the aviation industry event you cannot miss, featuring numerous opportunities to network with industry professionals from across North America. At this conference, attendees will also have a chance learn about the latest updates in aviation that will impact the North American airport industry. Plan now to explore our expansive trade show floor to see the latest technology in the industry!

>> Opinion: Five reasons I’m excited for the ACI-NA Annual Conference
Next week, the who’s who of the airport industry will gather in Fort Worth, Texas for the 2017 ACI-NA Annual Conference & Exhibition. Members of Boingo are excited to saddle up and join the 200+ airports attending to talk trends, emerging technologies and new products. Read the full article >>

>> Hurricane Irma: Flights resuming in Florida; cancellations now at 16,700
Flights are set to begin flying today at nearly a dozen airports that halted operations ahead of Hurricane Irma. But the scale of cancellations remained broad in Irma's wake. Read the full article >>

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>> TSA approves 3D bag screeners designed to speed up airport security lines
After weeks of testing, the Transportation Security Administration has certified 3D carry-on bag screeners built by Massachusetts-based Analogic. The approval clears the way for the machines to be deployed at airports around the U.S. Read the full article >>

>> Toronto Pearson: The next step
Howard Eng, President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, details the authority’s ambitious plans to create a ‘mega hub’ at Toronto Pearson. Read the full article >

>> High winds cause plane to drift while attempting to land at MYR
Intense winds from Tropical Storm Irma that impacted the Grand Strand on Monday made landing impossible for one airplane that attempted to touch down at Myrtle Beach International Airport. Read the full article >>

>> 'A rebellion against high fares': New low cost airline launching in Hamilton
A new ultra-low cost airline that claims it will have the lowest base fares in Canada is launching out of the Hamilton and Waterloo airports in June of 2018. Stan Gadek, CEO of Canada Jetlines, made an announcement about the new carrier's plans in Toronto on Monday. Read the full article >>

>> Flair Air expands route network in B.C.
Flair Airlines is expanding their route network by adding flights to three additional airports; Kelowna International Airport, Toronto Pearson Airport and Vancouver International Airport. Read the full article >>

>> United Airlines: Iceland, Portugal included among four new Europe routes
United Airlines is adding seasonal service on four new routes to Europe, the carrier announced Tuesday. The new routes – two from United’s hub in Newark and one each from its hubs in Washington and San Francisco – continue a recent international growth spurt for the company. Read the full article >>

>> HMSHost wins contract at Denver International Airport for three new Starbucks® stores
Global restaurateur HMSHost and D1 Solutions, under a joint venture partnership called Host DSL DEN F&B, LLC, have been awarded a 7-year contract to operate three new Starbucks® stores at Denver International Airport. Denver’s Department of Aviation voted recently to make the measure official. Read the full release >>

>> Piece of World Trade Center now part of Charlotte Douglas International
A piece of a steel beam that was salvaged from the collapsed World Trade Center towers is now on permanent display at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The chunk of steel, which resembles an open book, was unveiled Monday as part of a 9/11 memorial. Read the full article >>

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

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.

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.