Conference Education
The 98th Annual AAAE Conference & Exposition delivers a forward-looking education program designed for aviation professionals navigating growth, complexity, and change. From federal partnerships and emergency preparedness to emerging technologies, workforce challenges, and global mega-events, this year’s sessions focus on the issues shaping the future of airports.
Through interactive panels, roundtables, and case-driven discussions, attendees will hear from industry experts, peer airports, and government partners—gaining practical insights, real-world lessons, and strategies they can apply immediately.
Monday, May 4:
From Runway to Renewal: SAF and Aviation’s Decarbonized Future
This forward-looking session explores how Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is transforming the aviation sector's efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Aimed at motivating both emerging professionals and industry leaders, it will focus on the skills, innovations, and cross-sector teamwork necessary to expand SAF adoption and boost climate initiatives. Participants will receive strategic insights into how current choices shape aviation’s environmental legacy and discover ways to contribute meaningfully to creating a more sustainable future for air travel.
Building While Operating: Delivering Capital Programs Without Breaking the Airport
Airports across North America are undertaking unprecedented capital investments to modernize terminals, reconstruct airfields, expand capacity, and improve passenger experience while continuing to operate complex, safety-critical facilities 24/7. For airport leadership teams, the challenge is not simply delivering projects on time and on budget, but doing so without compromising operational performance, safety, stakeholder confidence, or customer experience.
Freight in Flight: Powering the World Through Air Cargo
From e-commerce packages to life-saving medical supplies, air cargo keeps the world moving at 35,000 feet. This energetic session dives into the fast-paced world of air freight, exploring how technology, strategy, and global demand are reshaping the cargo landscape. Join us for a lively look at the powerhouse behind global trade.
Funding, Capital, & Construction
Explore strategies for accessing capital, funding critical projects, and delivering complex construction programs while minimizing operational disruption.
Operational Readiness for Events
Special events bring significant challenges to airport operations which must be mitigated. Multiple large events are upcoming, and planning is in full swing! FIFA World Cup, Olympics, Super Bowl, etc. and this session will explore how airports are preparing to be on the world stage while also ensuring the airport can continue everyday operations.
General Aviation Hangar Development
Airports across the country are facing a pivotal moment as demand for hangar space for both corporate and light general aviation outpaces supply all while costs continue to increase. This session will explore practical forward-thinking approaches to hangar development during these challenging times.
What’s the Big Idea?: Designing Journeys that Define Our Experience
Expectations at U.S. airports are rising fast, and airports are rethinking how customer experience is designed, delivered, and making a measurable difference—from customer-centric terminal design and smoother journeys to creating a true sense of place and positioning airports as destinations in their own right. Move beyond buzzwords and explore the bold ideas shaping how passengers feel, move, and connect inside the airport. Follow the passenger journey to highlight what elevates the experience, where design makes the biggest difference, and how airports are building trust and excitement for the future of flying.
Airports Sharing Knowledge – How to Build Upon Peer Knowledge and Leverage Relationships Within the Industry
The old industry adage is, “If you have seen one airport, you have seen one airport”. As true as this statement may be, consistent communication with other airports can provide dividends in reducing time required for problem solving as the likelihood that another airport has encountered the same, or similar issue, is high. This session will explore unique solutions developed by airports to uplift and support operations of fellow airports ranging from mock airfield inspections designed to simulate official regulatory inspections, informal group discussions, and simply reaching out with a question. The speakers will explore the benefits of consistent information exchange as well as the noticeable benefits of relationships that have produced to enhance airport safety, regulatory compliance, and efficiency at their respective airports.
Tuesday, May 5:
Employee Retention: Appreciation, Education, Aspirations – Keeping Employees Happy & Engaged
Touchdown to Torch Lighting: Airports, Cities, and Cultures Colliding on the World Stage
The world’s journeys begin at the airport, and global events shape the traveler experience from arrival to citywide celebration. What happens when millions of international visitors arrive in one city at the same time—and the eyes of the world are watching? As Los Angeles prepares to welcome major events, experts explore the big-picture scenarios global cities face when airports, streets, communities, and cultures all converge—tackling real-world “what if” moments, from first impressions at LAX and language barriers to diplomacy, disruption, and traveler expectations shaped by global mega-events. Candid stories, bold thinking, and insights into how collaboration helps cities like Los Angeles not just host the world—but welcome it.
The Ramp of the Future: Transforming Operations with Technology
Taking Mobility to New Heights: The eVTOL and AAM Era
This session brings together airport leaders, public-sector decision-makers, global partners, and industry operators to explore how Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is transitioning from visionary concept to real-world implementation. Attendees will gain valuable insights from InterVISTAS, a leading consulting firm specializing in policy analysis, regulatory strategy, informed mobility decision-making, and future-ready infrastructure planning. The conversation will also highlight real-world AAM initiatives, including planning efforts at Tampa International Airport and cutting-edge developments from Joby Aviation. Learn how engineering due diligence, on-airport infrastructure activation, and close collaboration with airport authorities are shaping the next generation of air mobility. Join us for an engaging and forward-looking discussion on how innovation, partnership, and strategic planning are shaping the future of the eVTOL and AAM era, coming to an airport near you!
When the Community Calls: Airport Response Leadership in Action
Every Part 139 airport has an emergency plan. But when your community is counting on you, during a mass casualty incident, extreme weather event, security threat, or infrastructure failure, the real question becomes: Is your airport truly ready? This dynamic panel will explore how response planning translates from paper to practice. Through candid discussion of recent real-world incidents, panelists will share lessons learned, operational adjustments made, and how emergency plans have evolved in today’s risk environment.
Fueling Growth: The Future of Capital Access
As demand for capacity, modernization, and resiliency accelerates, traditional funding models alone are no longer sufficient. This session brings together aviation leaders, financial institutions, and public-sector decision-makers to explore the next evolution of funding strategies for airport infrastructure that enable airports to deliver transformative projects while maintaining fiscal discipline. Attendees will gain insight into how leading airports are structuring deals, mitigating risk, and unlocking new sources of capital to support sustainable, long-term growth.
Navigating Airport Legal and Regulatory Changes
Your Airport, Your Voice: Social Media, Branding & Authentic Representation
Advanced ATC/Airfield Innovation
This panel will explore how modernization of the U.S. Air Traffic Control system is directly benefiting airports through improved efficiency, safety, predictability, and capacity. Experts will discuss the impact of key initiatives—including the FAA’s Service Awareness Initiative—along with other airport-focused modernization programs such as surface management enhancements and data-sharing tools. Attendees will gain practical insight into how these efforts strengthen coordination with the FAA, support infrastructure planning, and position airports for future growth and innovation.
Cybersecurity
Airport Space and Capacity Management: Maintaining Airfield Operations and Safety in a Complex Airport Environment
In a post pandemic era, some airports who have traditionally experienced ground congestion continue to do so while other airports who have experienced exponential growth address increasingly limited resources. From the blatantly obvious to more less noticeable from the outside, ground congestion is a significant concern for every airport in some variety. Space constraints, from leased areas to airport-controlled facilities, are a reality of current and expanding operations at airports. The more obvious, such as limited gating resources, taxiway, taxilane and leasehold access points, peak travel periods with major events, winter operations and runway capacity are always a primary concern for operational and planning personnel. The more obscure, such as a lack of parking for Ground Service Equipment (GSE) and airfield vehicle access, contribute greatly to overall airfield congestion and safety issues at some airports. With expanding operations, maintaining airside safety is paramount! This session will explore natural issues associated with heavy and expanding operations, including what airports have done to mitigate overall impacts.
