Buenos Aires, Argentina (November 19, 2017) - ALTA (the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association) kicks off its 14th Annual ALTA Airline Leaders Forum this week, November 19 - 21, 2017, in Buenos Aires, hosted by Instituto Nacional de Promoción Turística de Argentina and Ente de Turismo de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, along with host airlines Aerolineas Argentinas and LATAM Airlines.

More than 500 aviation industry decision makers are attending this year's Airline Leaders Forum, including CEOs and other high-level executives from 40 airlines; civil aviation authorities from Argentina, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Mexico and Panama; and executives from ANAC, Airlines for America, AETAI, ACI, CANSO, DECEA, EANA, CLAC, FAA, IATA, JURCA, ARLAE and ICAO; as well as other leading industry providers and key stakeholders.

The largest and most important event of its nature in the Latin America and Caribbean commercial aviation industry, ALTA's Airline Leaders Forum is designed to stimulate an international dialogue that promotes a safer, more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly aviation in the region. The Forum provides an excellent opportunity for the industry to come together, network, analyze and address how best to navigate through the challenges faced by the industry in the current environment.

"During this Forum, we are looking forward to continuing to further ALTA's joint cooperative efforts with all industry stakeholders through interactive and proactive discussions and collaboration on how together we can further grow and develop the region's air transport industry - the vital link connecting people, businesses and communities throughout the region and beyond," said ALTA's Executive Director Luis Felipe de Oliveira. "ALTA's Airline Leaders Forum is the ideal venue for such collaboration bringing together stakeholders from all areas of the industry, including airlines, industry providers, authorities, airports, air navigation providers, and other industry associations to collaborate and work together to ensure effective and efficient industry growth."

During 2016, Latin America and Caribbean airlines transported 262 million passengers, increased their fleet to 2,064 aircraft for an average fleet age of 7.6 years, and started service on 60 new routes. For complete details on recent statistics for the region, visit the ALTA 2017 - 2018 Yearbook which was released today.

This week's Forum agenda focuses on the following topics which are central to ensuring the continued growth and development of aviation in the region: infrastructure development; charges, taxes and fees; regulations and consumer protection; and safety. For the complete agenda, including speakers, visit: Forum Agenda.

ALTA Airline Leaders Forum 2017 Agenda Overview
Welcome by Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Executive Director ALTA
Message from Enrique Cueto, President of ALTA's Executive Committee
Message from Alexandre de Juniac, Director General and CEO IATA
Message from Ing. Juan Pedro Irigoin, National Administrator ANAC
Message from Guillermo Dietrich, Minister of Transport of Argentina
Economic Analysis of the Region
Financing and Growth in the Region
Evolution of Iberia's Business Model
Growth in the Region - what are the main obstacles that airlines encounter when developing
Airports - Infrastructure and Investment in the Region
Breaking the Operational Safety Paradigms
Argentina - taking steps towards change in means of transportation
Airline CEO Pane
In addition, ALTA's annual awards ceremony will take place during the Forum, including the introduction of the "Alas de América" award, which was born as an initiative by ALTA to recognize a person, or private or governmental institution that has made or is making a significant contribution to the growth and continuous improvement of the airline industry in the Latin America and Caribbean region.

Primary sponsors for this year's ALTA Airline Leaders Forum include: Boeing, CFM, Embraer, Powerjet, Roll-Royce, Superjet International. Additional sponsors include Accelya, ATPCO, ATR, DAE Capital, DXC Technology, First Class, Air Support, GA Telesis, Global Eagle EMC, HAECO, HITIT, Lufthansa Systems, Lufthansa Technik, Macquaire AirFinance, MasterCard, Miami-Dade International Airport, Mitsubishi, Pratt & Whitney, Sabre Travel Network, SITA, UATP, Willis Lease Finance Corp., WorldPay.