2025 Agenda
Miami, FL, 14 - 15 May 2025
Schedule
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May 148:40
Conference pass
Organizer opening remarks
Keynotes
Clare Corden, Conference Producer, Terrapinn Holdings Ltd
Keynote Stage
May 148:45
Conference pass
May 148:50
Conference pass
Digital innovation to enhance the customer experience
Keynotes
Jaron Millner, Head of Digital and Innovation, oneworld alliance
Preston Peterson, Managing Director Customer Experience, American Airlines
Keynote Stage
May 149:20
Conference pass
Transforming airports: Technology, sustainability, and passenger experience
Keynotes
Marisa Von Wieding, VP Operations, JFK Terminal One
Tara Mulrooney, CTO & VP Innovation, Edmonton International Airport
Dave LaPorte, Chief Operating Officer, City and County of Denver Denver International Airport
Keynote Stage
May 1410:00
Conference pass
The Loyalty Equation: Digital Marketing That Keeps Passengers Coming Back
Keynotes
Joe Galano, VP, Open Loop/Partnerships, Tango
May 1411:20
Conference pass
Airport experience transformation: From check-in to boarding gates
Experience
Jason Fogelman, Sr Director, Airport & Inflight Strategy & Ops Support, Spirit Airlines
Track 6
May 1411:20
Conference pass
Connecting the world: Exploring the power of airline alliances
Distribution
Christine Valls, Sales Director, Latin America & the Caribbean, United Airlines
Track 2
May 1411:20
Conference pass
Crafting compelling brand stories: Marketing strategies in aviation
Marketing & Loyalty
Track 6
May 1411:20
Conference pass
Navigating REAL ID: Implementing, integrating, and enforcing compliance at TSA checkpoints
Airport Technology
Simone Davis, Director, REAL ID, Transportation Security Administration
Track 4
May 1411:20
Conference pass
Navigating the impact of conversational search on aviation to maximize opportunities
Digital, IT, & AI
Olaf Backofen, Head of Global Retail Partnerships, Lufthansa Group
Track 3
May 1411:20
Conference pass
The role of data analytics and business intelligence in sales acquisition
Revenue
Interviewee: Lisa Morales Wilson, Head of Sales, Caribbean Airlines
Interviewer: Yen-Pu Paul Chen, Senior Director Corporate Planning & Business Intelligence, V.X Consulting
Track 1
May 1411:40
Conference pass
Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure: An FAA Review
Airport Technology
Track 4
May 1411:40
Conference pass
Airline Retail: Adopting e-commerce strategies, narrowing the traditional gap
Revenue
Sachin Jain, Senior Director - Technology, Innova Solutions
May 1411:40
Conference pass
Aviation marketing transformed: The rise of the travel creator economy
Marketing & Loyalty
Track 6
May 1411:40
Conference pass
Cybersecurity challenges and solutions in aviation IT
Digital, IT, & AI
David Overfelt, Director Information Systems, Breeze Airways
Track 3
May 1411:40
Conference pass
Unlock Personalized, Prompt, and Proactive Answers to Traveler Issues with Contact Center AI
Experience
Kayla Broussard, CTO, Travel and Transportation, Kyndryl
May 1412:00
Conference pass
Digital transformation in aviation: Shaping the future of the industry
Digital, IT, & AI
Jim Hicks, VP, IT & Digital, Global Crossing Airlines
Amit Rikhy, Co-Founder and Partner, Carlyle Airport Group
Giovanni Gennaro, Head of Open Innovation, Aeroporti di Roma
Track 3
May 1412:00
Conference pass
Engagement beyond points: Building emotional connections with customers
Marketing & Loyalty
SungJoon Park, Director - Loyalty & High Value Customers, SkyTeam
Jade Liska, Deputy Director, Planning And Engineering Division, Kansas City Aviation Department
Megan O'Connell, Assistant Director - Marketing, Communications and Customer Experience, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Track 5
May 1412:00
Conference pass
Future trends in airport technology: From robotics to autonomous vehicles
Airport Technology
Maurice Jenkins, Chief Innovation Officer IAP C.M., Miami International Airport
Moderator: Dan Christian, Travel Trends Podcast, Travel Trends Podcast
Amir Amidi, Director, Plug and Play Tech Center
Track 4
May 1412:00
Conference pass
Raising the bar for in-flight passenger experience
Experience
Fiona Kiesel, Chief Guest Officer, Breeze Airways
Paul Mills, Head of Inflight Services, Virgin Atlantic Airways
Moderator: Aram Gesar, Publisher, AirGuide Travel Tech & Media
Track 6
May 1412:00
Conference pass
Revolutionizing revenue management: The future landscape of revenue optimization
Revenue
Matthew Ouimet, Director of Revenue Management, Yield, Southwest Airlines
Juan Pablo Lafosse, CEO, TravelX
Jen Lozada, VP of Revenue, Tradewind Aviation
Track 1
May 1412:00
Conference pass
Transition to NDC: Transforming airline distribution standards
Distribution
Dawid Karaś, Deputy Sales Director, Head of NDC, LOT Polish Airlines
Shreya Parmar, Head of Offer Placement Business, Lufthansa Group
Moderator: Karina Medeiros, Regional Manager, Transformation and Products - Americas, IATA
Track 2
May 1413:20
Conference pass
How to Strategically Integrate AI for Long-Term Customer Satisfaction
Roundtables
As airlines increase their AI investments, it's crucial for leaders focused on customer experience to be confident in their long-term AI strategy. Join Kyndryl's roundtable at Aviation Americas to explore how AI can transform customer experience in aviation. This session will focus on strategic approaches to implementing AI that drive personalized, efficient, and seamless passenger interactions. Industry leaders and AI experts will discuss the latest advancements, strategic frameworks, and practical applications of AI in aviation, highlighting how these innovations can transform customer service, optimize operations, and boost passenger satisfaction.
Rafa Mercado, Vice President, Consumer and Travel Market Leader, Kyndryl Consult, Kyndryl
May 1413:20
Conference pass
Roundtable 2: The Path to Airline Distribution Freedom
Roundtables
Airlines face significant commercial and technological constraints imposed by PSSs, GDSs, and OTAs, which limit their ability to innovate and control their distribution channels. In this session, we will explore the critical importance of achieving distribution freedom and the strategies to overcome these barriers. We will delve into the historical roots of these constraints and discuss innovative approaches to reclaim control over distribution channels, drive revenue growth, and reduce costs. Additionally, we will share a benchmarking analysis of where airlines currently stand with their distribution relationships and their path toward achieving both commercial and technological freedom. Join us to discover how airlines can break free from traditional limitations and transform their distribution strategies.
May 1413:20
Conference pass
Roundtable 3: Reducing the Financial Impact of Operational Delays
Roundtables
David Price, Senior Data Analyst, Cirium
May 1413:20
Conference pass
Roundtable 4: Modernizing Legacy Platforms for Over the Wings and Below the Wings
Roundtables
Arvind Ramachandra, Chief Technology Officer, Innova Solutions
May 1413:20
Conference pass
Roundtable 6: Shaping the Future of Aviation: Leveraging Technology for Operational Excellence and Enhanced Passenger Experience
Roundtables
Kevin Corr, Travel & Hospitality Leader - Americas, Cognizant
May 1413:20
Conference pass
Roundtable 7: Beyond myIDTravel - how to manage duty travel with myDutyTrip
Roundtables
Managing business trips is a complex process that can be greatly streamlined with a digital platform. The comprehensive myDutyTrip travel management software assists airlines and companies with ID travel entitlements in reducing workload, cutting costs, fulfilling their duty of care, and ensuring employee flexibility and satisfaction.
In this roundtable session, you will learn, how myDutyTrip can optimize your business travel and reduce costs. Based on the renowned myIDTravel platform, it offers the same proven user experience. With myDutyTrip, airlines benefit from an end-to-end process for planning, booking, and managing business travel, including ID flights, hotels, rental cars, approvals, expense management, and comprehensive reports. The tool empowers users to book independently, enhancing employee satisfaction while ensuring compliance with travel policies.
Join us to explore the features and advantages of myDutyTrip and discover how it can transform your airline's travel management practices
May 1413:20
Conference pass
Roundtable 8: Know Your Traveler: How Airlines can Establish Digital Trust
Roundtables
Vidhan Mittal, Director, Strategic Accounts, Jumio
May 1414:00
Conference pass
The impact of dynamic pricing on airline revenue generation
Revenue
Tomas Rodrigo Mendez, Revenue Manager, Air Century
Track 1
May 1414:00
Conference pass
The intersection of digital innovation and cybersecurity: Edmonton-Vancouver case study
Digital, IT, & AI
Tara Mulrooney, CTO & VP Innovation, Edmonton International Airport
Track 3
May 1414:00
Conference pass
The role of customer service in fostering loyalty and advocacy
Marketing & Loyalty
Interviewer: Gabby Poirier, Director, Juliett Alpha
Track 5
May 1414:00
Conference pass
Transforming Miami International Airport: Capital improvement program update
Aviation Strategy & Operations
Basil Binns, II, Deputy Director of Aviation, Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MIA)
Track 4
May 1414:00
Conference pass
Transforming Miami International Airport: Capital improvement program update
Aviation Strategy & Operations
Basil Binns, II, Deputy Director of Aviation, Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MIA)
May 1414:20
Conference pass
Flying Smarter: How AI and Automation are Shaping the Future of Airlines
Digital, IT, & AI
Moderator: Gabriel Fuentes, Head of DevOps/SRE, Global, Softtek
Daniel Gelemovich, Digital & Marketing Director, Volaris
Julee Evans, Senior Manager United Intelligent Airport, United Airlines
Track 3
May 1414:20
Conference pass
Optimizing revenue across the aviation experience: The best kept secret, passenger experience is the engine of lifetime value
Revenue
May 1414:20
Conference pass
The Multi-Tasking ID BUZZ—For all your sustainable aviation goals
Sustainability
Cesni Ennis, Regional Fleet Sales Manager, Volkswagen of America
Kendra Patterson, Regional Fleet Sales Manager, Volkswagen of America
May 1414:40
Conference pass
Building partnerships to grow and retain community air service
Marketing & Loyalty
Herbert Ghent, Executive Manager , Network Revenue and Distribution, Caribbean Airlines
Track 5
May 1414:40
Conference pass
Cultivating leadership in aviation: Strategies for developing future industry leaders
Aviation Strategy & Operations
Moderator: Arpad Szakal, Aviation & Aerospace, Cormis Partners Ltd
Tricia Thompson, Talent Manager, Piedmont Airlines
Track 4
May 1414:40
Conference pass
Innovation in airline retail: Trends and transformation
Retail & Payments
Gary Cojulun, Sr Manager, Retail Systems, United Airlines
Vidhan Mittal, Director, Strategic Accounts, Jumio
Olaf Backofen, Head of Global Retail Partnerships, Lufthansa Group
Moderator: Mandeep Grewal, Founding Partner/CEO, Flyaway Advisors LLC
Track 2
May 1414:40
Conference pass
Maximizing ancillary revenue streams: From baggage fees to in-flight sales
Revenue
Felipe Gomez, Revenue Management Director, Wingo
Pradipta Kanjilal, Vice President - Travel, Transportation & Hospitality, Innova Solutions
Track 1
May 1414:40
Conference pass
Towards net-zero emissions: Sustainability goals and strategies in aviation
Sustainability
Ed Wegel, Chair and CEO UrbanLink Air Mobility, Avi8 Air Capital
Track 6
May 1414:50
Conference pass
Leveraging AI for smarter aviation operations
Digital, IT, & AI
Tom Garrison, Enterprise Architect, Emerging Trends & AI, Southwest Airlines
Viktorija Diestelkamp, Head of Analytics & AI Products, British Airways
Jim Hicks, VP, IT & Digital, Global Crossing Airlines
Kushal Pasari, Director - Data Engineering, GenAI/ML, United Airlines
Track 3
May 1415:30
Conference pass
Tech Driven Futures: Innovation in AI and Airport Technology
Keynotes
Maurice Jenkins, Chief Innovation Officer IAP C.M., Miami International Airport
Justin Kester, VP Global Sales, Synaptic Aviation
Keynote Stage
May 1416:05
Conference pass
AI Driven Passenger Experience & Loyalty: How to Make Your AI Investments Work for You
Keynotes
Rafa Mercado, Vice President, Consumer and Travel Market Leader, Kyndryl Consult, Kyndryl
Massimo Morin, Global Head, Travel, AWS for Travel and Hospitality, Amazon Web Services
Tom Garrison, Enterprise Architect, Emerging Trends & AI, Southwest Airlines
Cornelius Honour, AVP of IT Infrastructure and Operations, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
May 1416:35
Conference pass
Driving Loyalty through Customer Experience
Keynotes
Reserved for Allianz
Ricky Horwitz, Global Head of Sales, GSP - Travel, Ticketing & Lodging, Allianz Partners
Christopher Daugherty, Director, GX and Loyalty, Spirit Airlines
May 1417:10
Conference pass
Revenue and distribution revolution: Harnessing technology for airline innovation
Keynotes
Shreya Parmar, Head of Offer Placement Business, Lufthansa Group
Vijay Dheap, Chief Executive Officer, RozieAI
Keynote Stage
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May 159:00
Conference pass
From loyalty to media to commerce: Innovating across the customer journey
Keynotes
Luc Bondar, COO, United Airlines
Keynote Stage
May 159:20
Conference pass
Optimizing Delay Recovery in Airline Operations
Keynotes
Jay Morgan, Director, Professional Data Services, Cirium
May 159:40
Conference pass
Aviation opportunity across Latin America
Keynotes
Ken Pyatt, Deputy Aviation Director, Miami International Airport
Tiago Faierstein, Director Comerical, Infraero Brazilian Airports
Keynote Stage
May 1510:20
Conference pass
The transformation of Spirit Airlines and the evolving aviation landscape
Keynotes
Interviewee: Rana Ghosh, Chief Transformation Officer, Spirit Airlines
Keynote Stage
May 1511:20
Conference pass
Developing Manchester Airport: Transformation and plans for international expansion
Airport Technology
Track 4
May 1511:20
Conference pass
Future trends in aviation: AI and emerging technologies
Distribution
May 1511:20
Conference pass
How Customer Experience Can Become a Campaign
Experience
rukiye sunduz gani, cx coms supervisor, Turkish Airlines
Track 6
May 1511:20
Conference pass
Navigating regulatory issues and building partnerships between airlines, airports, and governments
Marketing & Loyalty
Aylette Wright-Paul, Manager of Government and Industry Affairs, Caribbean Airlines
Jade Liska, Deputy Director, Planning And Engineering Division, Kansas City Aviation Department
Track 5
May 1511:20
Conference pass
Revenue management in airline operations: Pricing, inventory, and yield optimization
Revenue
Jen Lozada, VP of Revenue, Tradewind Aviation
Track 1
May 1511:40
Conference pass
Elevating employee experience through innovative technology
Experience
Interviewer: Arpad Szakal, Aviation & Aerospace, Cormis Partners Ltd
Interviewee: Fabian Mascaretti, VP, Employee Experience, Avianca
Track 6
May 1511:40
Conference pass
How airlines can leverage digital tools to give passengers more control during disruptions
Digital, IT, & AI
Simon Dempsey, CCO, Plan3
May 1511:40
Conference pass
Optimizing ground operations: Streamlining efficiency and safety in aviation
Airport Technology
Adam Thompson, President, Lagniappe Aviation
Justin Kester, VP Global Sales, Synaptic Aviation
May 1512:00
Conference pass
Aviation innovation: Fostering collaborative partnerships
Airport Technology
Moderator: Michael Bell, Senior Client Partner, Aviation And Aerospace, Korn Ferry
Amit Rikhy, Co-Founder and Partner, Carlyle Airport Group
Stephen Snyder, Managing Director, Operations & Partnerships, JetBlue Ventures
Track 4
May 1512:00
Conference pass
Gateways to major events: How airports align marketing and experience for high-impact moments
Marketing & Loyalty
Megan O'Connell, Assistant Director - Marketing, Communications and Customer Experience, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Moderator: Gabby Poirier, Director, Juliett Alpha
Track 5
May 1512:00
Conference pass
Implementing digital twins for airport operations and maintenance
Digital, IT, & AI
Track 3
May 1512:00
Conference pass
Improving accessibility and passenger experience for all travelers
Experience
Moderator: Eric Boromisa, Managing Partner, Numbers & Letters
Maurice Jenkins, Chief Innovation Officer IAP C.M., Miami International Airport
Laurel Van Horn, Programs Director, Open Doors Organization
Track 6
May 1512:00
Conference pass
Strategies for growth in a dynamic market
Distribution
Simon Hawkins, Head of North America, Virgin Atlantic Airways
Track 2
May 1513:20
Conference pass
Cleared for take-off: Launching successful aviation start-ups
Start-Up Competition
Vicki Nakata, Airline Venture CEO, Alaska Airlines / UP.Labs
Giulio Ranucci, Head of Innovation & Digital, Aeroporti di Roma
Ed Wegel, Chair and CEO UrbanLink Air Mobility, Avi8 Air Capital
Track 6
May 1513:20
Conference pass
Connecting the skies: Exploring the future of IoT and IFEC
Digital, IT, & AI
Tom Garrison, Enterprise Architect, Emerging Trends & AI, Southwest Airlines
Track 3
May 1513:20
Conference pass
Designing a thriving workplace culture in aviation: Fostering engagement, inclusion, and innovation
Aviation Strategy & Operations
Track 4
May 1513:20
Conference pass
Protecting loyalty programs with a holistic security & fraud prevention strategy
Marketing & Loyalty
Howard Patty, Sr. Manager Digital Platforms, Southwest Airlines
Track 5
May 1513:40
Conference pass
From Booking to Boarding: Innovations in the End-to-End Customer Journey
Digital, IT, & AI
Emily Smith, Sr. Strategy Consultant, Airship
Chris Harper, Senior Enter Sales Rep, Airship
May 1513:40
Conference pass
Start-up pitch competition
Start-Up Competition
5 start-up finalists (selected by judges prior to AFA)
Each start-up will give a 5-min pitch, then 5 min Q&A from judges (50 minutes total)
15 min feedback, 10 min deliberation, 5 min awards (30 minutes total)
Vicki Nakata, Airline Venture CEO, Alaska Airlines / UP.Labs
Ed Wegel, Chair and CEO UrbanLink Air Mobility, Avi8 Air Capital
Track 6
May 1513:40
Conference pass
The power of local: Building community support through the “Fly Local” campaign
Marketing & Loyalty
Track 5
May 1514:00
Conference pass
Addressing workforce shortages: Strategies for recruitment and retention
Aviation Strategy & Operations
Moderator: Arpad Szakal, Aviation & Aerospace, Cormis Partners Ltd
Charlene Lowery, Recruiting Coordinator, PDT Airlines
Track 4
May 1514:00
Conference pass
Data-driven loyalty: Leveraging customer insights for program enhancement
Marketing & Loyalty
Moderator: Yen-Pu Paul Chen, Senior Director Corporate Planning & Business Intelligence, V.X Consulting
Bruno Gonzalez, Head of Loyalty, Volaris
Nick Ewen, Director of Content, The Points Guy
Whitnee Hawthorne, Global Head of Travel and Hospitality, Snowflake
Track 5
May 1514:00
Conference pass
Elevating customer communication: Strategies for seamless passenger experience in aviation
Digital, IT, & AI
Al Tredinnick, HOC, 15below
Binoy Surendran, Product Head - IFEC, Air India Limited
Track 3
May 1514:00
Conference pass
The evolution of in-flight retail: Trends, innovations, and the future of cabin commerce
Retail & Payments
Moderator: Aram Gesar, Publisher, AirGuide Travel Tech & Media
Track 2
May 1514:00
Conference pass
U.S. government assistance to expand your global footprint
Revenue
Moderator: Christopher Munoz, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. Department of Commerce
Elena Mendez, Regional Director, Eastern Region, Small Business Group, Exim Bank
Track 1
May 1514:40
Conference pass
Bridging the skills gap in aviation: Training and development initiatives
Aviation Strategy & Operations
Jason Fogelman, Sr Director, Airport & Inflight Strategy & Ops Support, Spirit Airlines
Michael Bell, Senior Client Partner, Aviation And Aerospace, Korn Ferry
Track 4
May 1514:40
Conference pass
Leveraging digital solutions to manage IROPs in aviation
Digital, IT, & AI
Tom Garrison, Enterprise Architect, Emerging Trends & AI, Southwest Airlines
Megan Atkins Thoben, Director Of Operations And Business Development, Louisville Regional Airport Authority
Track 3
May 1514:40
Conference pass
Personalization strategies in airline marketing: Tailoring offers and experiences to individual customers
Marketing & Loyalty
Stephen Snyder, Managing Director, Operations & Partnerships, JetBlue Ventures
Melissa Mangold, Senior Manager, Digital Marketing & Content, United Airlines
Track 5
last published: 29/Apr/25 21:15 GMT
Contact us
To sponsor or exhibit contact:
Joe Hames
Tel: +1 646-619-1774
joe.hames@Terrapinn.com
Speaking Opportunities:
Clare Corden
Tel: +1 201-912-7744
clare.corden@terrapinn.com
Marketing/Press Opportunities:
Kaylie Brogan
Kaylie.Brogan@terrapinn.com
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