CAPA Airline Leader Summit Latin America & Caribbean 2024

Welcome by Airports Authority of Trinidad & Tobago, Ministry of Works & Transport and Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Arts.

Santiago Álvarez is a Colombian executive with a major degree in Business Administration and holds an MBA from Los Andes University in Bogotá. With over 20 years of experience, Santiago has spent the last 8 years in the airline industry, joining LATAM Airlines as Commercial Director for Colombia. Since September 2017, he has served as the CEO of LATAM Airlines Colombia, where he has successfully led significant growth for the airline in his country. Prior to his tenure at LATAM, Santiago spent over 10 years in the media industry, holding various leadership positions at a national newspaper based in Bogotá.

Rafael is a widely respected aviation professional who has worked in the air transport industry for the past 26 years; having held highly strategic roles in airport companies in the United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, as ACI World's Director of Economics, and recently as CEO of Montego Bay Airport in Jamaica. With an extensive academic experience in economics, planning and transport management, Rafael holds a PhD in Air Transport Economics. He has authored specialist publications and has been a professor at several European universities.

Lori Ranson is currently a Senior Analyst at the Centre For Aviation (CAPA). Her coverage has touched on all aspects of commercial aviation, including marketing and distribution, network development, safety, maintenance, repair and overhaul, aircraft programmes, alliances, regulatory developments, finance and the passenger experience. Prior to joining CAPA, Lori spent more than a decade covering the commercial aviation industry, specializing in the North American market. Previously she was Americas Air Transport Editor for Flightglobal, where she led a team of journalists and worked with freelancers to produce content for Flightglobal, FlightglobalPro, Flight Daily News and Airline Business magazine. Prior to that, she worked as a Senior Editor for Aviation Week, covering low-cost and regional airlines.

Latin America and the Caribbean are among the world's fastest growing aviation regions, but growth is increasingly focused on inter-continental and domestic markets. Within the region, a lack of harmonisation on regulatory standards and differing approaches around competition, liberalisation and aviation policy all threaten to put a drag on the pace of regional development.

• With differing regional approaches to liberalisation, not to mention shifts within countries from government to government, what policies should be put in place to enhance regional connectivity?

• Where can regional governments make easy gains around common regulatory standards to support regional aviation?

• Is the rise of pan-regional aviation groups going to unwind the old protectionist policies towards national carriers?

• How do airlines work with governments in the region to influence developing areas of regulation around topics like sustainability and biofuels?

José A. Freig is Vice President of International Operations, where he leads American's airport operations in Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Middle East, Asia, the Pacific, and Canada, including more than 2,700 peak weekly flights at more than 110 international destinations. Prior to this role, José served as Vice President of Operations and Commercial for Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America (MCLA), where he worked closely with the airline's team members and partners in the region, GOL Linhas Aéreas and JetSMART Airlines, to elevate American as the leading U.S. airline in MCLA. He previously served as Vice President of International and Interim President of Cargo, also overseeing the airline's Premium Guest Services operation. José has held several leadership roles at American including Managing Director of Latin America and Caribbean Operations and Managing Director of International Government Affairs and Chief Security Officer. José began his airline career in 1997 at America West Airlines in Tucson, Arizona. In 2008, he served as the Area Director of the West Region for Siemens Government Technologies in Phoenix, where he was the security technology and screening liaison to federal government agencies. He is on the board of directors for Hostage US and is a member of the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association, U.S. Department of State Overseas Security Advisory Council and the Orange Bowl Committee.

Latin America and the Caribbean is emerging as a potential global hotspot for action towards the decarbonisation of air travel. With burgeoning travel has come elevated public awareness around travel sustainability. Yet, activity in the region remains piecemeal and action appears to centred around individual public and private actors within the sector.

• Despite a strong local biofuel sector, critical decarbonisation infrastructure - such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production and delivery facilities - remains largely absent in the region. How can the sector push for the localisation of major decarbonization projects and reduce its dependency on fuel produced in other regions?

• Without localised SAF production in the short-term, what other avenues are there to enhance the sustainability of aviation in the region?

• Are there options to push forward sustainable aviation on a country or even regional basis, or does action still fall to individual organisations?

Aviation is increasingly transitioning away from a static, product-oriented model of retailing to one that is dynamic, contextual and personalised to the customer. At the same time, the customer journey continues to undergo a transformation, changing the way that travellers interact with their service providers both online and off.

• How are regional carrier's progressing with the transition to new industry standards like NDC and One Order?

• Can the transition to dynamic offers be aligned with greater demand for self-service and technology-augmented travel solutions?

• What is the role of partnerships with technology providers, travel aggregators and other third-party firms to implement and manage dynamic retailing?

Efficient airline operations rely on the seamless coordination and collaboration between key stakeholders throughout the airline with a focal point on the operations control center. The recent meltdown of some major airlines in the aftermath of naturally occurring disasters and/or IT failures highlight the heavy dependence on robust IT systems to drive productivity. Unfortunately, many airlines still rely on outdated IT systems that are prone to failure and prolonged recovery times. In this session, we will explore the opportunities for next generation IT systems that enable effective decision making, and facilitate real-time interactions with all stakeholders including active crew members.

Tourism travel to Latin America and the Caribbean reached new highs following the pandemic and growth is only forecast to continue. The regional middle class is showing new affinity for travel, and continued expansion in connectivity is adding a new wave of intercontinental travellers. At the same time, regional business travel remains depressed and forecasts indicate that corporate travel in the region is still years away from a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels.

• How do regional carriers pivot to accommodate the new passenger mix?

• What are the key travel trends that are fueling demand for travel to regional destinations?

• How do airlines develop new revenue streams to benefit from the growth in local and intercontinental tourism?

Enhancing operational efficiency and passenger experience relies on the pivotal role of collaboration between airlines and airports. In this panel, aviation leaders from across Latin America will delve into the strategies, technologies, and partnerships that drive successful integration between key stakeholders, fostering smoother operations, optimised resource management, and ultimately, greater customer satisfaction. Explore real-world examples and innovative approaches that highlight the value of synergy in navigating the complexities of modern aviation.

• How can airlines and airports better coordinate to minimise turnaround times and improve on-time performance?

• In what ways can collaborative efforts enhance data sharing, operational planning and management, as well as security, ensuring seamless passenger flow?

• How do partnerships between airlines and airports contribute to sustainability goals and reduce environmental impact?

• What role does technology play in facilitating communication and coordination between airlines and airports?

• How can collaborative innovation in facilities and infrastructure development enhance the passenger experience from check-in to boarding?

• What prospects are there for greater government investment in airport infrastructure, or does the solution lie in privatisation, partnerships and innovations in financing?

Join regional aviation and tourism leaders as they put their heads together to provide insights on the future of the industry in Latin America & the Caribbean region. This dynamic closing panel to the CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Latin America is intended to foster open, free-wheeling discussion on the biggest ideas and most important challenges and opportunities for the region.

Interaction between participants, moderator, and the audience will be a key feature of this capstone conversation. Suggest themes or topics for discussion during the registration process or as they emerge during the conference, or come prepared to join in with more direct questioning.

Engage with industry leaders on topics that are most relevant to their sectors and learn from dynamic exchanges unbound by the limits of traditional conference structures.

Example Themes:

• How do we maximise the benefits of the aviation industry for the region?

• What are the biggest roadblocks to airlines in Latin America and the Caribbean operating within the region and doing so profitably?

• How to enhance connectivity in the face of on-again/off-again protectionism.

• What should the emphasis on infrastructure development to enhance regional capacity?.

• With regional governments still viewing commercial aviation as a piggy bank, how can the industry enhance profitability in the face of high taxes and fees?

• Is the future of regional aviation going to be concentrated in the hands of a fewer and ever larger airlines?

Marina Colunga is the Sales Regional Director for Latin America on behalf of Iberia and British Airways, leading the commercial strategy and expansion in the region. In her previous roles, she developed a strong background of more than 20 years of experience in areas such as Tourism, Airlines, Leisure Travel, Hospitality, and OTA's. Her career includes a collection of Senior Leadership positions such as Regional Director, Area Manager, Market Director, Sales & Marketing Director, ECommerce, and Public Relations Director for some of the top worldwide hotel brands, including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Melia International, and Expedia Group. Marina Colunga has a Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Commerce from Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE).

LATAM Airlines Colombia, CEO, Santiago Alvarez spoke to CAPA TV at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Latin America & Caribbean 2024, in Trinidad & Tobago, about latest industry trends and company developments.

CAPA Events are hosted in key markets around the world and attract the highest calibre of thought leaders and decision makers in the aviation and travel industry. Delegates are provided with unprecedented access to the latest data, insights and trends from our global team, in addition to valuable networking opportunities with executives across all sectors of the aviation and travel industry. Review CAPA's full events calendar here.

interCaribbean Airways, CEO, Trevor Sadler spoke to CAPA TV at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Latin America & Caribbean 2024, in Trinidad & Tobago, about latest industry trends and company developments.

CAPA Events are hosted in key markets around the world and attract the highest calibre of thought leaders and decision makers in the aviation and travel industry. Delegates are provided with unprecedented access to the latest data, insights and trends from our global team, in addition to valuable networking opportunities with executives across all sectors of the aviation and travel industry. Review CAPA's full events calendar here.

Caribbean Airlines, CCO, Martin Aeberli spoke to CAPA TV at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Latin America & Caribbean 2024, in Trinidad & Tobago, about latest industry trends and company developments.

CAPA Events are hosted in key markets around the world and attract the highest calibre of thought leaders and decision makers in the aviation and travel industry. Delegates are provided with unprecedented access to the latest data, insights and trends from our global team, in addition to valuable networking opportunities with executives across all sectors of the aviation and travel industry. Review CAPA's full events calendar here.

American Airlines, VP International Operations, José Freig spoke to CAPA TV at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Latin America & Caribbean 2024, in Trinidad & Tobago, about latest industry trends and company developments.

CAPA Events are hosted in key markets around the world and attract the highest calibre of thought leaders and decision makers in the aviation and travel industry. Delegates are provided with unprecedented access to the latest data, insights and trends from our global team, in addition to valuable networking opportunities with executives across all sectors of the aviation and travel industry. Review CAPA's full events calendar here.

CAE Flight Services, Product Director, Michael Clarke spoke to CAPA TV at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Latin America & Caribbean 2024, in Trinidad & Tobago, about latest industry trends and company developments.

CAPA Events are hosted in key markets around the world and attract the highest calibre of thought leaders and decision makers in the aviation and travel industry. Delegates are provided with unprecedented access to the latest data, insights and trends from our global team, in addition to valuable networking opportunities with executives across all sectors of the aviation and travel industry. Review CAPA's full events calendar here.

Hitit, Americas Sales Representative, Maximiliano Vicini spoke to CAPA TV at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Latin America & Caribbean 2024, in Trinidad & Tobago, about latest industry trends and company developments.

CAPA Events are hosted in key markets around the world and attract the highest calibre of thought leaders and decision makers in the aviation and travel industry. Delegates are provided with unprecedented access to the latest data, insights and trends from our global team, in addition to valuable networking opportunities with executives across all sectors of the aviation and travel industry. Review CAPA's full events calendar here.

Winair, CEO, Hans van de Velde spoke to CAPA TV at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Latin America & Caribbean 2024, in Trinidad & Tobago, about latest industry trends and company developments.

CAPA Events are hosted in key markets around the world and attract the highest calibre of thought leaders and decision makers in the aviation and travel industry. Delegates are provided with unprecedented access to the latest data, insights and trends from our global team, in addition to valuable networking opportunities with executives across all sectors of the aviation and travel industry. Review CAPA's full events calendar here.

Viva Aerobus, EVP & COO, Adrian Torija, spoke to CAPA TV at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Latin America & Caribbean 2024, in Trinidad & Tobago, about latest industry trends and company developments.

CAPA Events are hosted in key markets around the world and attract the highest calibre of thought leaders and decision makers in the aviation and travel industry. Delegates are provided with unprecedented access to the latest data, insights and trends from our global team, in addition to valuable networking opportunities with executives across all sectors of the aviation and travel industry. Review CAPA's full events calendar here.

Airports Authority of Trinidad & Tobago, Emmanuel Baah, spoke to CAPA TV at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Latin America & Caribbean 2024, in Trinidad & Tobago, about latest industry trends and company developments.

CAPA Events are hosted in key markets around the world and attract the highest calibre of thought leaders and decision makers in the aviation and travel industry. Delegates are provided with unprecedented access to the latest data, insights and trends from our global team, in addition to valuable networking opportunities with executives across all sectors of the aviation and travel industry. Review CAPA's full events calendar here.

The Caribbean is one of the premier global tourism destinations, and the region has enjoyed an enviable bounce-back in recent years with arrivals passing pre-pandemic levels in many markets. While travel demand generally remains strong, largely thanks to sustained outbound travel from the US, indicators are emerging that growth is decelerating and outlooks are diverging between individual country markets. This session will examine key issues, opportunities and trends for the regional travel and tourism sector, including:

• Was the strength of the post-pandemic tourism surge a temporary phenomenon or will tourism-dependent economies be able to sustain recent volumes of arrivals?

• How are Caribbean destinations working to widen their appeal outside of traditional North American and European source markets? What are the opportunities for developing arrivals from markets in Central and Latin America?

• Given that tourist arrivals are heavily influenced by ease of access, what are the best avenues to enhance direct air connectivity and frequency levels?

• With intra-regional travel remaining fragmented, capacity-limited and expensive, are there prospects for revitalising the local air travel market and developing true regional travel hubs?

E-flight is a hot topic and seems to have great potential, with new aircraft, routes and initiatives announced on a regular basis. However, some are questioning its true potential and wonder whether it will ever be economically viable on a meaningful scale. We explore the economics of e-flight and identify key areas that the industry will have to pay attention to in order to make e-flight a true enabler of connectivity and contributor to the decarbonization of aviation. Our work makes use of a case study in the Caribbean and explores regulatory, financial and technical aspects driving the potential of e-flight. It provides recommendations for airlines, OEMs, airports, investors and policy makers on the potential of e-flight for specific markets and areas of intervention that will have the greatest impact on both connectivity and the sustainability of aviation.