More than 360 attendees, including executives, industry leaders, and authorities, gathered in Mexico City for the ALTA AGM & Airline Leaders Forum 2026.
Mexico City, October 23, 2026. Aviation leaders from Latin America, the Caribbean, and around the world gathered in Mexico City for the ALTA AGM & Airline Leaders Forum 2026, the annual event organized by the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) to discuss the most pressing issues facing the sector.
Among them were more than 40 airline executives, authorities, representatives of international organizations such as ICAO and UN Tourism, regulators, airport operators, and industry suppliers. They took part in an agenda of discussions that brought together diverse perspectives on the evolution of aviation in the region, its challenges, and the decisions needed to strengthen connectivity. Here are the key takeaways.
The region is expected to grow between 2.1% and 2.2% in 2026, according to the World Bank and ECLAC. Against this backdrop of modest growth and tighter financing, analysts from Deutsche Bank, S&P Global, and Boston Consulting Group agreed that industry consolidation can help improve airline profitability, as long as competition is preserved and passengers retain their options, including low-cost alternatives.
The CFOs of Aeromexico, Abra Group, and Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras discussed how they make decisions when growth and investment compete for the same capital. They agreed that the priority is to strengthen profitability, manage fleet and capital more efficiently, and align capacity with market conditions. In this environment, success is measured not only by fleet size but by how efficiently capital is deployed and by the ability to pass costs through to the market without hurting demand, favoring sustainable growth over expansion.
Bryan Bedford, Administrator of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), spoke with Michael Bell of Korn Ferry about how to build a safer, more efficient airspace across the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. He emphasized cross-border collaboration, the sharing of technology and procedures, and the joint pursuit of opportunities to improve efficiency.
Representatives of ANAC Brazil, ICAO, and UN Tourism discussed whether greater regulatory convergence could open the next chapter of Open Skies in the region.
Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of WestJet Group, and Luís Rodrigues, CEO of TAP Air Portugal, joined Gabriela Frías of CNN to discuss how Latin America and the Caribbean fit into airlines’ global strategies, highlighting the potential of seasonal tourism and the importance of connectivity with the region. For WestJet, Canadian travelers seeking beach destinations in winter represent a key business opportunity. The conversation also addressed what it takes to attract more routes: adequate infrastructure, lower barriers to entry, and a predictable regulatory environment.
Estuardo Ortiz, CEO of JetSMART; Andrés Conesa, CEO of Aeromexico; Fabián Lombardo, CEO of Aerolineas Argentinas; and Gabriel Oliva, President of Avianca, discussed the challenges and opportunities facing aviation in the region, from market growth to connectivity. The conversation centered on the need to keep the sector competitive in the face of rising costs, taxes, and fees that drive up ticket prices.
Martin Drew, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Atlas Air Worldwide, spoke about how to build an air cargo company that can grow and adapt to market shifts, against a backdrop of e-commerce expansion and trade tensions. The conversation highlighted e-commerce as the main growth driver and the importance of adding capacity strategically to meet demand, capture new opportunities, and respond to changing trade flows.
Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines; Somit Goyal, CEO of IBS Software; and September Smith of Of Course AI examined what it takes for artificial intelligence in aviation to move from pilot projects to reliable operations.
Finally, Adrian Neuhauser, CEO of Abra Group; Gaël Méheust, president and CEO of CFM International; Mike Malik, Chief Industry Officer at Cirium; and Martyn Holmes, Chief Commercial Officer at Embraer, discussed how to secure the aircraft and engines the region needs to grow, in a market marked by limited availability, costly financing, and emerging technologies.
“This week we confirmed that aviation in Latin America and the Caribbean has enormous growth potential. The challenge now is to turn that potential into action by working together: governments, airlines, airports, and the entire value chain. Our ambition must be clear: to exceed 0.69 trips per person and bring the benefits of air connectivity to millions more people. Thank you to Mexico for hosting us, to Aeromexico for serving as our host airline, and to all participants. We leave Mexico City with optimism and the conviction that the best is yet to come,” said Peter Cerdá, CEO and Executive Director of ALTA.
The 23rd edition of the ALTA AGM & Airline Leaders Forum will take place October 17–19, 2027, in San José, Costa Rica, with the support of the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) as Official Host and Abra Group as Host. ALTA invites its members and all industry stakeholders to join, because the connectivity this region deserves is a commitment that does not stop.
Attorney and Master in Public Policy with more than 10 years of experience in regulatory affairs, government relations, and public policy strategy across Latin America. Currently serves as Head of Government Affairs at the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), leading engagement with governments, regulators, and international organizations to advance policies that strengthen air connectivity and the development of the aviation sector in the region. Brings strong experience in regional regulatory positioning, high-level stakeholder management, and the coordination of complex public policy agendas across multiple countries. Has represented organizations in strategic forums and decision-making processes throughout Latin America. Recognized for building consensus and translating complex regulatory frameworks into initiatives that enhance industry competitiveness and sustainability.
María José has solid experience in strategic communication, reputation management, crisis handling, and institutional positioning for organizations with a global scope. Throughout her career, she has developed 360° communication strategies and media visibility initiatives for companies across various sectors, including energy, financial services, and hospitality, with the goal of strengthening corporate reputation and engagement with key audiences.
Johnny is a Public Accountant graduated from Santa Maria University in Caracas, Venezuela. He has over 30 years of experience in service and manufacturing companies in the Administration, Accounting and Finance areas, leading the implementation of administrative and financial systems and restructuring of the accounting department. In January 2009, he joined ALTA as head of Administration and Finance with the objective of preparing the financial statements and responsible for the external audit, updating internal procedures, controlling assets and coordinating IT services and maintenance, providing forecasting and financial reporting to drive current and long-term profitability.
Carolina is a lawyer, specialized in International Law and Business since 2007. She has worked at Citibank, Asobolsa (as Legal and Administrative Vice President), IATA (as Government Affairs Manager), and more recently has provided consulting services in personal and professional development.
