Aviation Festival Americas 2026 spotlighted some of the leading voices from North, South, and Central American aviation.
Across multiple keynote interviews, the CEOs of legacy airlines and low-cost carriers (LCCs) alike shared their insights as the industry grapples with a range of pressing issues. From rising fuel prices to the rise of AI and premium products, there was no better time to bring the aviation community together to hear from these experienced speakers.
For those who couldn’t make it to Miami this year, here’s a snapshot of their key insights.
David Neeleman, Founder and CEO, Breeze Airways
Breeze broke into the market with the aim of serving underused routes across North America. After a delayed launch due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the airline is now hitting its stride and David Neeleman is optimistic about future growth. But he notes building so rapidly comes with its own operational challenges:
The biggest challenge we have is awareness, because we move so fast and we’re in so many cities.
Breeze has branded itself as the Seriously Nice airline, and it wants to build on this reputation through tech investment. Neeleman aspires to get rid of call centres entirely and amplify digital communications to keep things seamless for every customer.
Roberto Alvo, CEO, LATAM Group
Alvo highlighted the pressure rises in fuel prices continue to place on business, but said LATAM’s ‘accordion model’ should help it absorb shocks. Aviation, he argues, needs to be able to expand when demand comes up, but also contract during difficult periods.
When it comes to AI, Alvo sees implementation as the critical factor rather than the strength of any single piece of innovation;
The trick is not going to be the technology. The trick is how companies are going to be able to use it effectively.
Watch our one-to-one interview with Roberto Alvo here.
Ole Orvér, CEO, oneworld
Orvér came to the head of the oneworld alliance earlier this year, and in his short tenure this time his key commitments are to customer-centric service and creating a more homogenous experience across member airlines. He concedes that it can take time to eliminate discrepancies between various airlines, but he highlights the alliance’s loyalty programme as one of its key strengths.
One tool Orvér believes will help fulfil his dream of seamless alliance itineraries is distribution technology:
Offer and order management will change our industry. It will change the way the alliance operates.
Greg Anderson, CEO, Allegiant Air
It’s set to be an exciting few years for Allegiant as they consolidate their merger with Sun Country, announced in January earlier. Anderson is committed to making the deal a success, not just from an operational perspective:
Around half of integrations fail because of the culture side – from my perspective I’ve been incredibly focused on culture.
At the low-cost carrier (LCC), tech has also contributed to higher productivity at lower costs. Anderson points to Claude Code as a tool that has had a real impact, while AI automation has helped make their baggage processes more effective.
Alexis von Honesbroech, CEO, WestJet
Recent geopolitical developments have had an impact on the Canadian carrier, with von Hoensbroech reporting that demand for travel to the US has fallen by a quarter since 2024 due to ongoing tensions.
Fuel shortages in Cuba also resulted in WestJet withdrawing from the island. Von Hoensbroech notes:
That’s part of the nature of running an airline is that you constantly have to deal with external factors that you don’t control. But you can control how you respond.
He believes AI represents a ‘fundamental revolution’ in how aviation operates. Nevertheless, he predicts human relationships will still be important despite the growing role of tech in interacting with guests.
Adam Scott, CEO, BermudAir
A new carrier disrupting travel to the island of Bermuda, Scott is pleased with BermudAir’s progress in its early years. Boasting high NPS scores, the airline pursues a reputation as a boutique carrier, serving drinks in glassware and crafting a luxurious onboard experience.
In the future, transAtlantic flights could be on the cards, but for Scott wants to expand to underserved markets and connect more of the Americas to the island, which remains off-the-radar for many.
We want to be the world’s best premium leisure carrier, serving a lot of these niche but growing markets.
Join us at the next Aviation Festival Americas to hear more from industry-leading CEOs.
