After a post-Covid resurgence, aviation leaders across the Americas are confronting a hugely uncertain future. On the one hand, Latin America displays world leading passenger demand growth, new markets opening up and a returning connectivity between key South American hubs. Yet look North and storm clouds gather. The USA saw a decline in domestic passenger demand in February with major carriers implementing a hiring freeze on cabin staff as businesses reduce non-essential travel. As President Trump’s trade tariffs send shockwaves through stock markets then is global recession inevitable or will America be great again? GHI unites key aviation stakeholders to explore the scenarios and how they shape very different ground handling strategies. How do we turn crisis into opportunity. Could unpredictability be the spur we need to push on with digital innovations, the adoption of sustainable GSE and investing in retaining our most talented team members?
 
This is a forum for putting your biggest business concerns to the panel so please email us your questions at confernences@groundhandling.com

Exclusive insight from the teams at TCR and JFK New Terminal One on delivering a landmark GSE pooling programme. How will airport authorities and resident ground handlers ensure +600 motorised and non-motorised units are charged and ready to go when the greenfield terminal opens? What steps have been made to optimise charging capacity, enhance safety on the apron and ensure equipment is available when and where required?

This case study-led discussion will explore how an operator has deployed AI powered apps and workforce management tools have claimed a 30% reduction in employee turnover in the notoriously tumultuous environment of the Americas apron. How can features like live feedback, gamification and on the job learning modules keep gen Z workers engaged? And where does traditional human leadership skills sit in an AI future?

Innovation is a hallowed phrase within aviation as the supply chain seeks to maintain world-class performance levels in the face of rising volumes and diminishing resource. GHI invites top ground handling operators from across the Americas region to demystify the term and explain the practical steps they are taking to bring innovation to the fore. Key discussion points will include does innovation come with a hefty price tag? And, do you need a dedicated team to unearth inspiration? We’ll ask our speakers to show some tangible examples of KPI enhancing innovation in the region.

With digitisation, and AI in particular, dominating industry airwaves – this session will explore the essentials for business focused digital transformation for handlers, airlines, GSE service workshops, GSE manufacturers and asset financing. Below the wing, companies are increasingly digitising business activities to enhance on-time performance, reduce costs, optimise staff and equipment utilization and benchmark performance for continuous improvement initiatives. The session will explore a 5-step model for successful digital transformation and an assessment checklist to answer the question ‘are we ready for digital transformation and AI?’.

After roaring back to surpass pre-pandemic passenger levels ahead of any other global region – latest IATA figures show a slight decline in North America traffic growth. Is this a blip or the start of a downward trend that could escalate under a wave of trade tariffs? Meanwhile, Latin American markets show near 7% year-on-year growth, aided by new infrastructure and tourism returning. This session will assess the year ahead for North and Latin American markets.

Exploring how dnata is launching ground handling into the space age with a showcase Orlando operation featuring a fully electric fleet, autonomous vehicles, automated billing, AI and anti-collision sensors. The team will reveal how a commitment to install the latest quality driven new tech doesn’t have to equal higher prices, the station can deliver a lower cost per turn than an orthodox operation. The dnata team will also explain how they newest tech is combined with the best staff talent with a proactive campaign to hire the ramp leaders of tomorrow.

The Argentinian government has liberalised its ground handling market causing a surge in international interest in one of the powerhouse economies of South America. With opportunities up for discussion at more than 35 airports – what is the market potential now Argentina has opened up and what are some of the entry challenges facing ground handlers looking to take advantage in the land of the puma?

GHI invites operators and suppliers to share real-life ramp stories of where new GSE, equipment, technology and ways of working have helped counter measure a potential catastrophic safety incident on the apron. The emphasis of this panel will be on a transparent and best-practice driven discussion that helps enhance the safety of ramp teams across the Americas region. What can we learn from one another that helps save lives?

While aviation leaders are pledging a net zero operation by 2050, the reality on the ground is a shortfall in charging points, GSE parking space and disjointed investment plans among airports, airlines and GSPs. This panel will invite fleet directors at major ground handlers to outline their sustainable fleet strategies and the steps to building a more coherent path to a low carbon future. A special focus of this panel will be bridging technologies like battery-as-a-service, power share as well as a look at sustainable fuel alternatives to Li-power like hydrogen and bio-fuels

GSE operators are being asked to do more with less, making operational efficiency and strategic decision-making more critical than ever. But without standardized data and real-time visibility, making informed decisions is a challenge. In this case study led session, we’ll explore how an airline/handler is using data standardization and system integrations to improve maintenance, fleet strategy, technician productivity, and help GSE operations move from reactive to proactive decision-making.

Passengers with reduced mobility are one of the fastest growing passenger groups within aviation and more than one in five travellers set to be classed as a PRM by 2050. This PRM passenger segment will double in value to over $1 billion by 2033. This session looks at how airports, airlines and GSPs go from a reactive and resource-intensive approach to PRM passengers to shaping a strategy that is proactive, data-driven and profitable.

This session will invite a leading aviation business in the Americas market to showcase how it is deriving a competitive advantage from its pioneering approach to ground services. Key themes will include the roll out of new technologies, sustainable equipment and creating a business culture where employees willingly offer up discretionary effort which directly impacts KPIs like OTP, customer service, near miss reporting and GSE utilisation.

This interactive workshop will ask what human skills will remain influential in motivating and inspiring aviation employees in the age of digital transformation. Attendees will learn how to blend technology with more traditional leadership tools to ensure you are optimising your workforce’s performance.

Nearly 90% of employees say they will not work, or continue to work for, a company with a poor reputation. So, with the entire ground handling industry feeling the weight of a negative employer image, how can you stand out to find and keep talent? This hands-on workshop will provide proven, business-boosting recruitment marketing and employer branding tactics to attract job seekers and promote your unique culture. It will also help you match prospective candidates to key attributes for ramp and check-in-based roles through compelling external messaging.

This workshop session will explore the importance of just culture in defining a line between a genuine mistake and gross negligence. How do you create a culture of openness amid the high-pressure environment of the apron? And what safety lessons are ground handlers losing out on by adopting a zero-tolerance approach to operatives who inadvertently damage GSE/aircraft or themselves during pushback and turnaround.