I am thrilled to be here in Fort Worth and I hope y ’all are enjoying the 2017 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition so far! Airport decision makers and their peers come from across North America each year to attend this event, and explore the latest trends and strategies that advance the industry. This year’s event is no exception.

Yesterday’s happenings were very successful with a jam packed agenda, featuring two general sessions and we have even more in store for you. Today, attendees will get to explore sessions featuring topics promoting security, flight plans, privatization, and much more. Don’t forget to check out our sold-out exhibit hall today featuring 175 exhibitors ready to demonstrate their expertise and help you solve the emerging challenges facing the airport industry.

I hope to see you all this evening at the closing night event set to take place at Billy Bob’s Texas. Wear your cowboy hats and boots!

Warmest regards, 

Kevin M. Burke
President and CEO, ACI-NA

7:00 AM – 5:45 PM: Check-in / Registration (Level 100 Concourse)

7:30 AM – 9:00 AM: World Business Partner/Associate Member Breakfast: Room: 201 (Open to all ACI-NA WBP/Associate members & ACI-NA member airport directors)

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Continental Breakfast (Ballroom Concourse)

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: General Session III Keynote Address with American Airlines CEO Doug Parker

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM: ACI-NA Downes Award Presentation

10:30 AM – 3:00 PM: Exhibition Hall Open (Lunch Served in Exhibit Hall from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM)

1:15 PM - 5:15 PM: Afternoon Sessions

5:30 PM – 6:15 PM: Chair’s Handoff Reception (Room: 201AB)

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Closing Night Event (Billy Bob’s Texas)

The 2017 ACI-NA Conference has over 2,000 attendees "and the numbers keep growing," said William Vanecek, Chair, ACI-NA and Director of Aviation at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, at General Session 1. The expo is "the largest in history, with 290 booths," he said.

To get a sense of those numbers, all one had to do was look around the packed session hall , where just about every seat was filled -- including one by the Mayor of Fort Worth, Betsy Price. "Air service is one of the main reasons Fort Worth is now the 11th largest city in the nation," she exclaimed when it was her turn on stage. Kevin M. Burke, President & CEO, ACI-NA, had some interesting numbers to share, as well, from the North American Annual Traffic Report that was released earlier in the day. According to the report, there was a 4% increase in air traffic in 2016., with Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport being the world’s most traveled airport with 104 million passengers in 2016.

The numbers were equally impressive when Sean Donohue, CEO, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport took the stage, and shared with the audience some information that validated the importance of the travel and tourism industry. For example, it is responsible for 10% of the world’s gross domestic product, to the tune of $7.6 trillion; globally, 292 million jobs; and 1 out of 10 jobs on the planet. "Let that sink in," he said, "and understand the impact our business has on the world."

With power comes responsibility, however, and that is where ACI-NA and its gatherings come in. The strength of the association is in its ability to "forge strong partnerships for the betterment of the industry – your industry," said Burke, adding: "At the core of our mission, we exist to help you make better business decisions." Donohue reiterated a similar message when he said, "We need partnerships to make this possible." In addition, "There is an incredible amount we can learn from each other. We should learn as much as we can from experts in the field."

And that is exactly what Rich Karlgaard is, in addition to being Editor-at-Large and Global Futurist at Forbes and a "power-user in airport travel," he said. While this was a light-hearted approach, the information he shared during his Keynote Address was substantive and serious. Companies have picked off all of the low hanging fruit and "now we are in this new era. They are trying to stick a straw into your operating model and suck everything out of It."

What we need to do is "bring this country back into balance," he explained. We are seeing these "wild asymmetries, said Karlgaard, and the American economy is under-performing because it is out of balance.

Bringing balance back requires action and adaptability. Karlgaard mentioned that there are four adaptability "must do’s" :

1. Be digitally fluent.

2. Understand cultural clarity. Look at culture as a triangle -- strategy, execution, values -- where we all have to be equally strong . When the balance is out, the Cadillac Cimarron is the same as the Chevy Cavalier, except for the hubcaps and grille.

3. Create great teams within companies. The optimal brainstorming/creative team size is no more than two pizzas can feed. "Almost everybody’s teams are too big," said Karlgaard. Also, pay attention to its diversity.

4. Allow for human development. "Hire for character," said Karlgaard.

Some of the other topics that Karlgaard touched on were growth percentages, "atom" vs. "bits" companies, the six Rs (reach, retention, relevance, reputation, revenue, ROI), technology and the "digital bang for your buck," the price of a taxi cab medallion in NYC (from $1.3 million to $200,000, 2014 to 2017), more parking spaces at airports (thanks to Uber), videoconferencing’s effect on air travel, the "two speed" economy, and megatrends.

US Customs to launch revised trusted traveler website in October
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will launch a new website in October to incorporate a branding transition from Global Online Enrollment System (GOES) to the Trusted Traveler Programs System, the agency said Sept. 18. Read the full article >> 

Revamped security checkpoint to open at Tucson airport
The second of two redesigned security checkpoints at Tucson International Airport opens Wednesday, Sept. 20, as the airport’s terminal renovation project continues. Read the full article >> 

Delta caps fares for flights out of Hurricane Maria-affected cities
Delta Air Lines said it is capping main cabin one-way fares at $199 for flights out of San Juan, Puerto Rico and Punta Cana, Santo Domingo and Santiago in the Dominican Republic as Hurricane Maria approaches. Read the full article >> 

Grand Rapids airport receives $3.8M for security improvements
The airport serving the Grand Rapids area has received a $3.8 million federal grant to improve security. The funds granted to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, which total $3,830,587, comes through the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program. Read the full article >>

Trudeau: Canada could stop dealing with Boeing over dispute
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday his government could stop doing business with Boeing if the U.S. company doesn’t drop a trade complaint against Canadian plane maker Bombardier. Read the full article >> 

Officials announce expansion of New Orleans direct flights
In 2016, according to officials, more than 11 million passengers passed through New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport – an increase of almost four percent from 2015’s 10.7 million figure. This year, the airport hopes to build on that record-breaking number by expanding its services to include a number of new direct flights from New Orleans to both international and domestic destinations. Read the full article >> 

Sacramento airport adds electric buses and an on-site solar farm
Sacramento International Airport took another step this month in its effort to transition its operations to clean energy use, winning a federal grant for a fleet of electric shuttle buses. Read the full article >> 

United: Final Boeing 747 flight will be to Hawaii on Nov. 7
United Airlines will make its last-ever Boeing 747 passenger flight on Nov. 7. The carrier has added a special "farewell" flight from San Francisco to Honolulu that will serve as its final passenger operation on the beloved jetliner to Hawaii on Nov. 7. Read the full article >>

Yesterday, ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin Burke gave a state of the industry address, highlighting ACI-NA’s mission-focused work to advance the industry, especially in the areas of infrastructure, passenger facilitation, and industry collaboration. Read more>>

North American Airports Continue to Report Passenger Growth in 2016

Yesterday, ACI-NA released the 2016 North American Airport Traffic Summary, containing passenger, cargo and aircraft operations data from 227 North American airports. In 2016, passenger traffic grew 3.8 percent and cargo traffic increased 2.4 percent. The 2016 North American Traffic Summary was announced at the 2017 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Fort Worth, TX. Read more>>

The exhibition hall has been a great success throughout the 2017 ACI-NA/ Annual Conference and Exhibition. Explore some more!

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

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? 

Collecting Data and Images From Airport Patrons Can Help You Provide Better Service and Generate More Concession Revenues--But What About the Legal Risks?: How can airports gather and use customer data to foster 21st Century commerce in their facilities without putting the enterprise at risk by failing to comply with data gathering/protection laws? Airports are collecting more and more data and images through their internet services, mobile apps, location-based services, CCTV and more. How can you comply with U.S. and Canadian privacy laws related to your collection and use of passenger information through various portals and devices? What do you need to know in order to avoid or mitigate a data disaster? 

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.