CAPA Airline Leader Summit Americas 2026
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Day 1 - Wednesday 27 May 2026 |
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08:00-09:00 |
Registration, Networking & Coffee |
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09:00-09:10 |
CAPA Welcome |
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09:10-09:25 |
Host Welcome Explore Charleston, Charleston Regional Aviation Authority Board Chair and President & CEO, Helen Hill |
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09:25-09:35 |
CAPA State of the Industry CAPA - Centre for Aviation, Senior Analyst, Lori Ranson |
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09:35-10:35 |
Surviving and Thriving in Modern Air Travel The traditional US airline model-building networks, filling seats, competing primarily on fares, with safety and capacity assured-seems under attack. Are we witnessing fundamental changes in air travel and navigation? Spirit Airlines enters liquidation: is low-fare, no-frills, low-cost competition a vestige of the past? War, regional conflict zones, and jet fuel spikes. How do airlines and air navigation service providers react to disruptive events entirely out of their control? Governmental efforts to place flight caps to prevent delays, cancellations, carbon emissions, or noise. Is this the new world of command-and-control and a breakdown of the free market to address competition, consumer protection, or environmental consequences of air travel? The increasing role of airlines and air traffic management to deal with safety, efficiency, and congestion, on the ground and in the air-with Advance Air Mobility on the horizon. Leveraging customer data to create tailored experiences that passengers willingly pay for-from premium seating to low-earth orbit Wi-Fi, from priority services to branded credit cards and lifestyle partnerships. As technology, partnerships, and resilience strategies reshape the industry, this session brings CEOs and experts together to debate whether the transformation is an evolution or a revolution-and what it means for aviation's future. Moderator: Clyde & Co, Partner, Ken Quinn Panel: Breeze, Chairman & CEO, David Neeleman American Airlines, Chief Strategy Officer, Stephen Johnson Serko, VP Strategic Business Development, Johnny Thorsen ATCA, President & CEO, Stephen Creamer |
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10:35-11:10 |
Coffee Break & Networking |
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11:10-11:30 |
What the fuel is going on??? Once again, airlines entered the year with renewed optimism, only to be confronted two months later by forces largely outside their control, bringing aviation its own version of "March Madness." Surging fuel prices are accelerating the industry's transformation. And with the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz as we approach summer, concerns about the availability of fuel are accompanying concerns thus far focused on price. This session will explore some of these factors and their implications. A4A, Chief Economist, John Heimlich |
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11:30-12:15 |
Evolving Patterns of the New North American Traveller The United States experienced an unprecedented tourism crisis in 2025, with the country standing as the only nation among 184 global economies to see declining international visitor arrivals-a staggering 8.2% drop that represents a USD12.5 billion loss in international spending, while domestic tourism has simultaneously plummeted 8% from January to July compared to 2024. This dual decline affects iconic destinations like Las Vegas, which has seen six consecutive months of visitor decreases, and extends across multiple States. Is political polarisation and policy uncertainty deterring international visitors who once flocked to American destinations? Is this a permanent shift? How are airlines and travel organisations navigating a rapidly changing environment? As travel patterns continue to evolve, how do Gen Z and Millennial travellers prioritise sustainability, authentic experiences, and digital-first booking processes? Moderator: Blaze Financial & Consulting, MD, Joe Mohan
Bermudair, CEO, Adam Scott Kiwi.com, Chief Business Development Officer, Mitzi Berberi US Travel Association, Senior Director of Government Affairs, Andrew Newhart Virgin Atlantic, VP Americas, David Hodges |
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12:15-12:35 |
From Transaction to Trust - what actually drives airline customer behaviour today Cover Genius, SVP Strategic Partnerships, Peter Smith |
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12:40-13:50 |
Lunch Break |
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13:50-14:20 |
Airline CEO Interview, Azul President Abhi Shah Azul, President, Abhi Shah Moderator: CAPA - Centre for Aviation, Senior Analyst, Lori Ranson |
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14:20-14:35 |
Success in the Americas - How Rolls-Royce Investments are Redefining the Customer Base Rolls-Royce, VP Sales - Americas, Michael Ryan |
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14:35-15:15 |
Beyond Codeshares: Strategic Partnerships for Tomorrow's Airlines As the aviation landscape evolves beyond traditional revenue models, strategic partnerships have emerged as powerful catalysts for growth, with the most innovative US carriers generating up to 28% of their total revenue through collaborative ventures. Today's partnerships transcend conventional airline alliances to embrace lifestyle brands, financial institutions, and emerging mobility providers that enhance the total travel experience. American Airlines' refreshed partnership with Hyatt demonstrates how tiered, activity-based benefits can replace static point transfers, while United's USD15 million investment in Eve Air Mobility signals a forward-looking integration with urban air taxi services that could revolutionise airport access by 2026. As we consider the future of airline partnerships, some questions arise:
The answers to these questions will likely determine which carriers merely survive and which truly thrive in the next decade of air travel. Moderator: Holland & Knight, Partner, Anita Mosner Panel: Delta, SVP Alliances & International, Perry Cantarutti Abra, CCO, Angus Clarke Southwest, Director Alliances, Julie Morris |
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15:15-15:35 |
Spotlight on the 787 family How did the 787 Dreamliner become the world's best-selling passenger widebody airplane family? What's new and next for the 787 and Boeing in South Carolina? Learn about the innovations, efficiency gains, passenger experience and operational benefits of the 787 family, and how the Boeing South Carolina site is expanding to support increased global demand. Boeing, 787 Programme Head of Marketing, Ekene Okpareke |
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15:35-16:05 |
Coffee Break & Networking |
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16:05-16:35 |
Airline Leader Interview, Avelo CEO Andrew Levy Avelo, CEO, Andrew Levy Moderator: KornFerry, Senior Client Partner, Michael Bell |
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16:35-17:20 |
The Long Flight: From Independence to Deregulation to Digital Disruption 250 years after the US Declaration of Independence and nearly 50 years after the landmark Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, the US airline industry remains in a continuous state of evolution, and stands as a profound testament to the nation's capacity for innovation and adaptation. The former industry leaders joining us today witnessed firsthand the industry's remarkable evolution from a heavily regulated environment-where routes and fares were government-controlled until the landmark Airline Deregulation Act of 1978-to today's dynamic marketplace driven by data, personalisation, and customer experience. These former leaders navigated through seismic shifts: the post-deregulation consolidation that transformed dozens of regional carriers into today's "Big Four" controlling over 80% of domestic capacity; the technological revolution that replaced paper tickets with sophisticated mobile platforms; and the fundamental business model transformation from selling seats to monetising the complete customer journey.
Moderator: Atmosphere Research Group, President, Henry Harteveldt Panel: American Airlines, former CEO, Doug Parker Northwest Airlines, former CEO, Doug Steenland Air Canada, former CEO, Montie Brewer |
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17:20-17:30 |
Day 1 Closing Remarks |
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19:00-21:30 |
Networking Dinner at The Cooper |