IAAE News

IAAE today convened global aviation leaders for its 9th Global Aviation Forum: Airport Operations and Performance Excellence, sponsored by AVCON, Inc. This quarterly virtual event focused on strategies for delivering reliable, day-to-day airport operations in increasingly complex environments.

Moderated by IAAE Chair and Aerostar Airport Holdings CEO Jorge Hernández, the forum brought together senior executives from airports across the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe to examine how leadership teams maintain operational stability while navigating capacity constraints, workforce challenges, and infrastructure demands. A keynote address was delivered by Jim Kriss, Founder and Senior Vice President of AVCON, Inc. 

The program featured an executive roundtable and panel discussions focused on aligning people, processes, and systems to ensure consistent operational performance. Speakers shared insights on performance metrics, operational dashboards, airside and landside coordination, and workforce planning, drawing on real-world experience from diverse operating environments.

For the first time, IAAE incorporated facilitated small group breakout discussions into the virtual format. These sessions enabled direct peer-to-peer engagement, allowing participants to exchange perspectives on current operational challenges and collaborate on practical solutions in a more interactive setting.

The addition of breakout discussions reflects IAAE’s continued focus on enhancing virtual programming by creating more dynamic, participant-driven experiences that complement executive-level dialogue.

The next Global Aviation Forum will be held on June 24, 2026, 10 a.m. U.S. ET. Contact Holly Ackerman at holly.ackerman@aaae.org for registration information.