Kahn to Present Keynote Address at ACI/North America Conference & Exhibition
Professor to discuss the advantages and challenges of airline deregulation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C. (Sept. 8, 2008) - Dr. Alfred E. Kahn, Robert Julius Thorne Professor Emeritus of Political Economy, Cornell University, will be the keynote speaker at the 2008 ACI World/North America Conference and Exhibition in Boston on September 22. As chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board, Kahn led the movement to deregulate U.S. airlines in 1978.
The 2008 ACI World/North America Conference and Exhibition, September 21-24, will bring together more than 2,000 airport executives from around the world. This year’s theme -- Making Global Connections -- captures the spirit of the increasingly global aviation industry. The conference and exhibition present a unique opportunity to meet with both regional and international colleagues, not only from airports, but across the entire aviation sector.
"This event will be the largest gathering of its kind since 2001, when the industry met in Montréal,” said ACI-NA President Greg Principato. “Not only are we looking forward to seeing many North American colleagues, we are eagerly anticipating the chance to connect with industry colleagues from each of ACI’s regions: ACI Africa, ACI Asia-Pacific, ACI Europe and ACI Latin America."
Educational Sessions
Educational sessions will cover a range of topics such as congestion management, airport ownership models, airline consolidation, adapting for climate change, measuring airport performance management, and worldwide trends in airport safety and security. Speakers include David McMillan, Director General, Eurocontrol, William S. Swelbar, Research Engineer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology International Center for Air Transportation, Captain Paul Rice, Deputy President, Air Line Pilots Association, International, Billy Glover, Managing Director, Environmental Strategy, The Boeing Company, Bill Voss, President and CEO, Flight Safety Foundation, and Monhla Hlahla, CEO, Airports Company South Africa.
Exhibition Hall
In addition to the excellent educational sessions, delegates can visit the hundreds of exhibitors in the conference Exhibition Hall. The grand opening will be celebrated with a ribbon cutting and reception on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 6:00 p.m. The Exhibition Hall will close on Tuesday evening.
ACI-NA Chairman’s Honors & 60th Anniversary Luncheon
Don’t miss the chance to celebrate 60 years of airport progress and success, on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Congratulate the winners of the 2008 Environmental Achievement Awards, the Peggy G. Hereford Award, and the 30-plus winners of the 2008 Excellence in Airport Communications and Marketing Contest. Also, join ACI-NA in honoring the late Walter Burg, former chief executive of Tucson Airport Authority, with the William E. Downes Jr. Memorial Award, for his outstanding leadership in promoting the cause of airports and aviation in his community.
Closing Night Event: John F. Kennedy Library and Museum
The conference will conclude at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum on Sept. 24, at 6:30 pm. The reception, sponsored by the 2009 Conference and Exhibition host City of Austin-Department of Aviation/Austin Bergstrom International, will offer food and entertainment with a southern flair. Dinner, a traditional Boston clam bake, will be sponsored by Boston Logan International Airport, the host of this year’s great event.
For More Information
Media who wish to attend can contact ACI-NA’s Victoria Houghton at vhoughton@aci-na.org to request press credentials. Contact ACI-NA’s meetings department at meetings@aci-na.org with general questions, or visit the ACI World/North American Conference and Exhibition website at http://www.aci-na.org/boston08/welcome-to-boston.html.
About ACI-NA:
The mission of Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA) is to advocate policies and provide services that strengthen the ability of air carrier airports to serve their passengers, customers and communities. ACI-NA represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. Nearly 400 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International.
CONTACT:
Eileen Denne, edenne@aci-na.aero (202) 293-4537
Victoria Houghton, vhoughton@aci-na.org, (202) 861-8080