The 16th ALTA Aviation Law Americas will explore regulatory challenges and opportunities for aviation in Latin America and the Caribbean

Buenos Aires, September 18, 2024 – The most important conference for the legal and financial aviation sector in Latin America and the Caribbean kicks off in Buenos Aires. The 16th edition of ALTA Aviation Law Americas will take place from September 18 to 20, 2024, in Buenos Aires. This event will bring together industry leaders, law firms, airlines, and regulatory experts to discuss the challenges and advancements shaping the aeropolitical landscape in the region.

The conference, organized by the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), provides a conducive environment for analyzing key topics such as regional integration, environmental challenges, taxation, and consumer protection.

One of the main discussion points will be the progress and challenges facing aviation regulation in the region. José Ricardo Botelho, Executive Director & CEO of ALTA, acknowledges that "the region has seen regulatory advances, such as Argentina's recent series of improvements to the laws governing commercial aviation, which highlight the essential role of aviation for the economy and society. These are modifications aimed at improving the country’s regulatory competitiveness to foster sector growth. However, much remains to be done in fundamental areas for a competitive and sustainable industry, not only in Argentina but across the region. Efficient regulations lead to better operational contexts, which in turn results in better and more options for users, enabling more people to fly, creating more jobs through aviation activity, and injecting greater dynamism into the economy."

ALTA Aviation Law Americas will also discuss persistent challenges, including bureaucracy, disproportionate costs, and the lack of consensus on public policies in crucial areas like sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). The issue of excessive litigation in Brazil, the largest country in the region, will also be a key focus, alongside other important topics.

Event agenda and featured speakers

The conference will be structured primarily around panels exploring a wide range of relevant industry topics. The agenda includes the participation of renowned experts.

On Thursday, September 19, the day will begin with an opening ceremony led by Hernán Gomez, Undersecretary of Air Transport of Argentina, María Julia Cordero, Interventor of ANAC Argentina, and José Ricardo Botelho, Executive Director of ALTA.

Following this, the first panel of the day, titled "Roadmap for Regional Integration in Latin America," will feature leaders such as Viviana Martin, Global Director of Institutional Relations at Avianca, Ricardo Catanant, Director of ANAC Brazil, Paola Plá, Deputy Director General of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC), Jaime Binder, Secretary of CLAC, Mauricio Sana, CEO of Flybondi, and Hernán Gomez. Together, they will discuss strategies for improving regional connectivity and the challenges faced by Latin American countries.

The next panel, titled “Overcoming Environmental Challenges in Aviation,” will focus on the development of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), industry commitments, and regulatory harmonization. Milena Fajardo, ALTA’s Head of Fuel and Sustainability, Carolina Betancort, Manager of New Business Bio Renewables at BioD S.A., Eliseo Llamazares, Head of Aviation and partner at KPMG, Eduardo Macedo, Head of Public Affairs and Institutional Relations at LATAM Brazil, and Oracio Marques, IATA’s Regional Director of External Affairs and Sustainability, will lead this crucial conversation.

After a break, the conference will continue with the presentation "Decoding Aviation Economics," led by Koen Karsbergen, partner at Air52 Aviation Consultants. This session will focus on how airline operations impact legal strategies.

Later, the panel on fiscal challenges, titled "Threats to the Aviation Industry in Latin America," will feature Carlos Protto, Director of International Fiscal Relations of Argentina, Marcelo Guaranys, partner at Demarest Attorneys, and Lygia da Fonseca, IATA’s Global Director of Fiscal Policy. They will address the fiscal challenges and tax pressures that a potential adjustment in UN regulations imposes on global aviation.

The afternoon will proceed with the panel "Beyond the Ordinary: Unruly Passengers and Peculiar Cases in Latin American Aviation." Ivette Franco, Senior Legal Director at Copa Airlines, Richard Galindo, Legal Director at Avianca, Luisa Medina, partner at Di Ciero Advogados, Thiago Carvalho, partner at ASBZ Advogados, and Francisco Prat, partner at Prat & Cia Abogados, will present unique cases and how airlines manage these situations.

The closing session on Thursday will feature the panel "Achieving Balance: Consumer Protection and Limiting Excessive Litigation in Latin America." This session, led by Ricardo Bernardi, partner at Bernardi & Schnapp Advogados, Bruno Bartijotto, Legal Director at LATAM Brazil, Eugenia Torres, Head of Aircraft Registration at ANAC Argentina, Flávio Igel, partner at Nantes Mello Advogados, Cecilia Demarco, Legal Director at JetSMART, and Agustín Ojea, Chief Legal Officer at Flybondi, will explore how to balance passenger rights protection with limiting excessive litigation.

On Friday, September 20, the day will start with the panel “Broadening Perspectives on Aircraft Supply Options.” Marcelo Mello, partner at Nantes e Mello Advogados, Roberto Held, Business Development Head for the Americas, and Diego Fargosi, partner at Fargosi Abogados, will share their insights on fleet strategies and the challenges of aircraft acquisition and leasing.

Following this, the panel "Dangerous Goods Cargo: Legal Considerations and Regulatory Compliance" will feature Ricardo Maluf from Maluf e Rodrigues Advogados, Sergio Martins from Beaumont & Son Advogados, and Marco Subía, partner at Naranjo Martínez y Subía Law Firm, who will discuss the challenges and regulations governing the transport of dangerous goods.

Finally, the conference will conclude with the panel "Infrastructure Constraints in Latin America – Impacts on Operations and Legal Consequences." In this session, Juan Sarmiento, ALTA’s Head of Economics and User Charges, Carlos Campillo, partner at Alegre, Calderón y Márquez Abogados, Olga Ramirez, President of CADA and partner at Martinez Quintero Mendoza Gonzalez Laguado & De La Rosa Abogados, Humberto Lopez, Director of International and Regulatory Affairs at Delta, and Carlos Gutierrez, Director General of AETAI, will discuss how infrastructure limitations affect airlines and the resulting legal implications.

ALTA Aviation Law Americas 2024 will be a key space for discussing the regulations that will shape the future of air transport in Latin America. With an agenda full of crucial topics and the participation of international experts, this event consolidates itself as an essential platform for driving solutions that strengthen the industry in an increasingly complex environment.