Hosted by
#GADEVENTS
27-28 May 2026 Charleston, USA
The leading conference for airport strategy and finance
2026
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS PLATINUM PARTNER
GOLD PARTNERS
EVENT PARTNERS
PURPOSEFUL PARTNER
ASSOCIATION PARTNER
#GADEVENTS 27-28 May 2026 Charleston, USA GAD Americas 2026 took place in Charleston, USA, co-located with the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Americas, both running concurrently on May 27-28. This strategic partnership brought together two of Aviation Week's leading Air Transport brands under one roof, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for addressing crucial issues impacting global air development. Conference Focus The conference brought together public and private airport operators, investors, financiers, regulators, government officials, and industry experts from around the world. It served as an unmissable opportunity to identify new investment opportunities, partners, and business prospects in the airport development sector.
“The GAD show has truly been an event built around meaningful connections with executive leadership and industry visionaries. I highly recommend that airports and airport industry leaders attend.” PATRICK TREVINO, CO-FOUNDER / COO, TRAX ANALYTICS
“It was a great opportunity to meet with key decision makers, and the corpus of key networks across aviation and development. It was an engaging and informative.” GERRARD P BUSHELL, CHAIRMAN AND PARTNER, CAG, THE CARLYLE AIRPORT GROUP
Key Themes for 2026 The programme explored critical topics shaping the future of airport infrastructure including: Investment & Funding
Leadership & Workforce
• How airports would fund, build, and operate the infrastructure of tomorrow
• Leadership models required for 2035
• Shifting federal priorities and private capital appetite
• Workforce development and talent strategies
• Public-private innovation and partnerships
Technology & Innovation
• Evolution of concession cycles
• AI adoption acceleration in airports
• Partnerships that aligned incentives across airports, airlines, investors, and governments
• Air Traffic Control (ATC) modernization
Regional Coverage
• Reimagining security through hybrid models
• Airport strategy across the United States
• Delivering speed, safety, and scalability through technology
• Canada
Long-Term Value Creation
• Latin America
• Commitment to sustainable growth
• The Caribbean
• Clarity and ambition in investment strategies • Transformation and next-wave growth opportunities
D Americas in numbers
GAD Americas in numbers
220+
90+
50
100%
attendees
networking meetings
industry leading speakers
of delegates achieved their objective of attending
#GADEVENTS
27-28 May 2026 Charleston, USA Electra Completes First Urban Flight of Hybrid-Electric Ultra Short Aircraft
GAD delegates were treated to a demonstration experience of Electra.aero's EL2 hybrid-electric aircraft – marking the inauguration of its Direct Aviation regional activity. The aircraft is the technology demonstrator behind Electra's EL9, a forthcoming nine-seat Ultra Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) aircraft designed for the 50- to 500-mile regional routes most travellers currently drive. Building on more than a year of successful flight testing with the EL2 technology demonstrator, Electra unveiled the EL9 design in 2024 and is progressing toward full-scale flight testing beginning in 2027. The aircraft can take off and land in 150 feet, unlocking the prospect of non-airport direct aviation as a new model for travel, “opening the door to transformative options for regional mobility,” according to Electra’s CEO Marc Allen.
“GAD's broad representation yet feeling of intimacy is quite a unique feature in conferences today.” STEVE NACKAN, E X E C U T I V E V I C E P R E I S I D E N T A N D P R E S E I D E N T – C O N C E S S I O N S , A E C O N G R O U P
“GAD Americas remains one of those rare conferences where the conversations in the hallways are often just as valuable as those on stage.” PATRICK LUCAS, P R I N C I P A L A N D F O U N D E R - AIRPORT ECONOMICS CONSULTING INC.
Country overview
Country overview
20+
Countries Represented • Argentina
• Ireland
• Belgium
• Mexico
• Bermuda
• Netherlands
• Brazil
• Panama
• Canada
• Puerto Rico
• Cayman Islands
• Spain
• Costa Rica
• Switzerland
• Dominica
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Ecuador
• United Kingdom
• Germany
• United States of America
“The place to be to meet the key decision makers in this exciting sector of the industry” JULIAN CARR, INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR – MAG
- MANCHESTER AIRPORTS GROUP
The thought-leaders presenting at the conference included:
The thought-leaders presenting at the conference included:
Adam Stahl Deputy Administrator TSA
Amit Rikhy Chief Commercial Officer Bradford Airport Logistics
Andrew Levy Founder & CEO Avelo Airlines
Christine Boynton Senior Editor Aviation Week
Curtis Grad CEO Modalis Infrastructure Partners Inc.
Darcy Wilson Managing Director, Transportation Fengate
Atif Saeed President/CEO San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
Brian Ryks Executive Director/C.E.O Metropolitan Airports Commission
David Feldman Managing Partner Exambela Consulting
David Neeleman CEO Breeze Airways
Chris Elmore Managing Director Goldman Sachs
Elliott Summey President & CEO Charleston Regional Aviation Authority / Charleston International Airport (CHS)
The thought-leaders presenting at the conference included:
The thought-leaders presenting at the conference included:
Eric Richards Corporate Department Co-Chair / Partner O’Melveny & Myers LLP
Evan Berg Director ASM
Francisco Brugueras Director, Infrastructure & Project Finance Barclays
Gerrard Bushell Chairman and Partner CAG, the Carlyle Airport Group
Ionut Doldor Director M&A AviAlliance GmbH
Jim Szczesniak Director of Aviation Houston Airport System (HAS)
Jody Aldcorn Partner McCarthy Tetrault
Johanne Gallant President and CEO Fredericton International Airport Authority Inc.
Julian Carr International Development Director MAG - Manchester Airports Group
Juliana Salim Faria Dantas Investments and Quality of Services Manager National Civil Aviation Agency ANAC (Brazil)
Kristof Philips Divisional CEO of Airport Solutions TCR International
Kunal Dasgupta Vice President, Acquisitions Vantage Group
The thought-leaders presenting at the conference included:
The thought-leaders presenting at the conference included:
Lance Lyttle Chief Executive Officer Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
Lawrence J. Krauter CEO Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Luke Bugeja Chief Executive Officer Ferrovial Airports
Marc Ricks Chief Executive Officer Avports
Maximilian Kalis President & CEO TBi Airport Management Inc. (VINCI Airports)
Mayor William Cogswell Mayor City of Charleston
Michael Bell Senior Client Partner, Aviation & Aerospace Practice Korn Ferry
Michelle Ottey Principal Investment Officer and Caribbean Hub Lead IFC Transaction Advisory
Monette Pasher President Canada Airport Council
Myron Keehn President & CEO Edmonton Airports
Nicholas Vallorano Partner Mayer Brown
Nick Hays President & CEO Winnipeg Airport Authority
The thought-leaders presenting at the conference included:
The thought-leaders presenting at the conference included:
Patrick Lucas Principal and Founder Airport Economics Consulting Inc
RJ Steenstra President and CEO Toronto Port Authority
Rafael Echevarne Director General ACI-LAC Airports Council International, Latin America & Caribbean
Ricardo Hernández CEO AERIS
Rich Maslen Head of Analysis CAPA - Centre for Aviation
Roel Huinink Chief Executive Officer JFK International Air Terminal, LLC
Sabine Trenk President & Chief Executive Officer Fraport USA Inc.
Samuel Johnson CEO IADC Dominica
Selvyn Hawkins Chief Executive Officer Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA)
Steven N. Nackan Executive Vice President and President Aecon Concessions
Suzette Noble Chief Executive Officer LaGuardia Gateway Partners
Tommy Bibb Aviation Development Director EXP US Services
Companies in attendance
Companies in attendance • AECOM
• Bermuda Skyport
• City of North Charleston
• Aecon Concessions
• Brad Franko Consulting
• Concentrix
• AENA
• Bradford Airport Logistics
• Cormis Partners
• Aeris Holding Costa Rica
• Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC)
• Corporación America Airports
• Aeropuerto Internacional De Queretaro
• Breeze Airways
• CVG Airport
• daa International
• Ahasic Aviation Advisors
• CAG, the Carlyle Airport Group
• Airbiz • Airlines Confidential
• Canada Development Investment Corporation
• Dart • Department of Finance Canada
• Airport Economics Consulting
• Canadian Airports Council
• DFW Airport
• Airports Council International
• Cantor Fitzgerald
• DHS
• AltitudeX Aviation
• Capital Region Airport Authority
• Edmonton Airports
• Arthur D Little • Arup • ASM • Assaia • Avelo Airlines • Avflight Corporation • AviAlliance • Aviation Facilities Company
• Carlyle Airport Group • Cayman Islands Government • Charleston County Council • Charleston County Economic Development • Charleston Regional Aviation Authority
• Aviation Week
• Charleston Regional Development Alliance
• Avports
• CIBC World Markets
• Barclays
• City of Charleston
• Bechtel Enterprises
• City of Loveland
• Fredericton International Airport
• LaGuardia Gateway Partners
• Sanyal Law
• LS3P
• Goldman Sachs • Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
• SC Aeronautics Commission
• Lufthansa Systems
• Sevly
• Manchester Airports Group
• Softtek
• Mayer Brown
• Stonepeak
• McCarthy Tétrault • Metropolitan Airports Commission
• SWD Strategic Advisory
• Greenhill • Groupe ADP • Houston Airport System • IADC Dominica
• ICF SH&E • Illinois Department of Transportation
• TAGSA
• Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
• TBi Airport Management Inc. (VINCI Airports).
• Ministry of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing, and Infrastructure
• TCI Airports Authority • TCR International
• Mobile Airport Authority
• Terminal Aeroportuaria de Guayaquil SA TAGSA
• Modalis Infrastructure Partners
• Toronto Port Authority
• MSI
• Town of Mt. Pleasant
• Ironbridge Airports
• O’Melveny & Myers
• Transport Canada
• JET Infrastructure
• Office of Senator Tim Scott
• Trax Analytics
• JFK International Air Terminal
• Paslay Group
• Trident Technical College
• JTR Strategies
• Plaza Premium Group
• Kaplan Kirsch
• Republic Airways
• TSA
• Fengate Asset Management
• Kiewit Building Group
• Rohde & Schwarz USA
• Turks And Caicos Islands Airports Authority
• Ferrovial Airports
• KMD & Associates
• Routes
• Uber Technologies
• Flare Aviation Consulting
• Korn Ferry
• Vantage Group
• Fraport USA
• KPMG
• San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
• Electra.aero • Essity Professional Hygiene • Exambela Consulting • EXP • Explore Charleston • Exponent • Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Airports
• INFRATA, A DSS+ COMPANY • Infraway • International Finance Corporation
• Winnipeg Airports Authority
“Once again, a great conference organised by the GAD team. Great line up of speakers and topics with real networking opportunities around the event for relationship building and sharing perspectives”
““As a first-time attendee, I really enjoyed the conference and the scheduling format. I really Like the shorter sessions with more topics being addressed overall”
EIMEAR CONNERY, GLOBAL HEAD OF AVIATION - TECHNICAL ADVISORY SERVICES - INFRATA, A DSS+ COMPANY
TOMMY BIBB, AVIATION DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR - EXP US SERVICES
The Post Event Website (including more photos and presentations can be found here)
The Post Event Website (including more photos and presentations can be found here)
Hokkaido, Japan
Milan, Italy
Co-located with CAPA Airline Leader Summit Asia hosted by Hokkaido Airports.
Co-located with CAPA Airline Leader Summit World & ATW Airline Awards and hosted by SEA Milan Airports.
1-2 October 2026
9-10 December 2026
SAVE THE DATE – MAY 2027 Details to follow… Exclusive 20% discount Secure your 2027 GAD Americas ticket today at 2026 rates, plus, an exclusive 20% discount. Book before 15 July to take advantage of this exclusive promotional offer. Use promo code: AMAS2027. Risk-Free Guarantee: Once the 2027 event dates and location are announced, you’ll have 30 days to confirm your attendance, request a full refund or transfer your registration to another eligible GAD event.