Plan Your CONNECT

Event Programme

Route development and industry briefings provide delegates with crucial and first-class insight, industry analysis and updates.

Tuesday 30th May

Tue
11:00 - 11:30
Industry Briefing

Introduction: State of the Industry

Rafael Echevarne, Director General, Airports Council International Latin America & Caribbean 
José Ricardo Botelho, Executive Director & CEO, Latin American & The Caribbean Air Transport Association 
Tue
11:30 - 12:15
Panel Discussion

Leaders’ Panel

What are the challenges and opportunities facing the aviation industry in the Americas? We're delighted to have the benefit of insights from key airline and airport CEOs across the region, to set the scene for our discussions over the next couple of days. What can we expect in terms of consolidation, emergence of new carriers, increasing focus on sustainability?

Moderator 
Speaker to be announced 
Panel 
Pierre-Hugues Schmit, Chief Commercial & Operational Officer, VINCI Airports 
Pedro Heilbron, Chief Executive Officer, Copa Airlines 
Speaker to be announced 
Tue
14:00 - 14:30
Keynote

Peter Cerda, IATA Keynote

Peter Cerda, Regional Vice President The Americas, IATA 
Tue
14:30 - 15:15
Panel Discussion

What are the opportunities for LCCs in Latin America?

The first phase of global LCC growth in the 2000s and 2010s was arguably more visible in Europe, Asia, and North America than in Latin America. The region is catching up fast, though, with the emergence of a wave of new entrants to complement long-standing players such as GOL. Meanwhile, North American LCCs are increasingly spreading their wings further south. We'll explore the particular challenges facing disruptors in a relatively regulated market, as well as the scale of the opportunities.

Moderator 
Patrick Edmond, Managing Director, Altair Advisory 
Panel 
Victor Pacheco, CEO and Founder, Arajet 
Camilo Martelo, Director of International Stations, Spirit Airlines 

Wednesday 31st May

Wed
11:30 - 12:15
Panel Discussion

Regional Connectivity: the emerging power of the regional airlines

There is a lot of talk about LCCs but what about the essential role of regional airlines to keep people connected, to link smaller airports into global networks, and to develop secondary routes? How can regional airlines increase their network? Can a liberalized market apply to the Caribbean?

Moderator 
Mercy Correia, Head of Industry Relations, ALTA 
Panel 
Rafael Echevarne, Director General, Airports Council International Latin America & Caribbean 
Vagner Ricardo, Airline Strategy Director - The Americas, Embraer 
Oscar David Unas, Head of Planning, SATENA 
Tracy Cooper, Managing Director, Bahamasair 
Wed
14:30 - 15:15
Panel Discussion

Bringing long-haul flights to your airport

Whereas long-haul routes, operated by large wide-bodied aircraft, were once the preserve of major airports, the arrival of new generation of long-haul single-aisle aircraft such as the Airbus A321LR/XLR enables the profitable operation of "thinner" long-haul service. How can airports identify and target these new long-haul route opportunities?

Moderator 
Nicolas Gurwicz, Vice President, Campbell-Hill Aviation Group 
Panel 
Michele Barre, Chief Revenue Officer, Air Transat 
Speaker to be announced 

Thursday 1st June

Thu
11:45 - 12:30
Panel Discussion

How can technology help airlines benefits from new distribution channels?

New approaches to interlining: Helped by the emergence of Low-Cost Carriers and the growth in online travel agencies, more and more customers are arranging their own journeys, finding their own flight connections, and assembling their own packages. How can airports, airlines and destinations benefit from these new distribution opportunities?

Moderator 
Mike Reynolds, Head of Partnerships, Skyscanner 
Panel 
Speaker to be announced 

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22-24 Feb 2023

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30 May - 1 June 2023
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