Conference Programme

Wednesday, 5 November 2025

• 09:10 - 09:20

  Presentation of the Colors (Honor Guard)

• 09:20 - 09:25

  Welcome Address

  Nico Spyrou, Head of Partnerships, Routes

• 09:25 - 09:45

  Opening Remarks

  • John E. Dailey, Mayor, City of Tallahassee
  • David J. Pollard, C.M., Director of Aviation, Tallahassee International Airport

  Hear more about why TakeOff North America 2025 is taking place in Tallahassee, Florida, along with a video presentation.

• 09:50 - 10:10

  Keynote address: reflections on the regional market

  Faye Malarkey Black, President and CEO, Regional Airline Association

  Gain expert insight into the current state of the regional market and potential future trends that could shape its future direction and the route development landscape.

• 10:15 - 10:35

  State of the wider market and current challenges: Economic Outlook

  John Heimlich, VP & Chief Economist, Airlines for America (A4A)

  How are airlines tackling current and future challenges such as aircraft ownership, leasing costs, aging aircraft and maintenance bottlenecks, while also remaining profitable?  John Heimlich, Vice President and Chief Economist at Airlines for America (A4A), shares his views. 

• 10:50 - 11:35

  Panel discussion: Adjusting airport strategy in line with changing market demands

  • Moderator: Evan Berg, Director, ASM
  • David J. Pollard, C.M., Director of Aviation, Tallahassee International Airport
  • Brian Grefe, Airport Director, Central Wisconsin Airport
  • Christina Cole, Senior Digital Aviation Strategist, Advance Aviation
  • Erin Porter, Manager, Marketing and Public Relations, Gainesville Regional Airport
• 11:40 - 12:00

  Case study: Gulf Shores International Airport – a smart move to commercial

  • Moderator: Ilona Cambron, Director, Air Service Development Consulting
  • Kristen Schilling-Gonzales, VP, Planning & Revenue, Allegiant
  • Jesse Fosnaugh, Airport Director, Gulf Shores International Airport
• 12:05 - 12:25

  Keynote address: State of the Airport Industry

  Matthew Cornelius, Executive Vice President, Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA)

Thursday, 6 November 2025

• 09:00 - 09:20

  Airline briefing: Avelo Airlines

  Mike Corcoran, Director Network Planning, Avelo Airlines

• 09:25 - 10:10

  Airline panel discussion: Looking to the future

  • Moderator: Ilona Cambron, Director, Air Service Development Consulting
  • John Parker, Director Capacity Planning, Southwest Airlines
  • Jonathon Freye, Executive Director, Association of Value Airlines

  Route development trends in North America that are set to shape the airline industry of tomorrow include expansion of transatlantic routes, selective targeting of high-demand leisure destinations, and growth of legacy carriers versus low-cost airlines; while increasing pressure to decarbonise and government regulations affecting the wider market are ongoing challenges. In this airline-led panel discussion, we delve into these topics and more as we look ahead to the next 5-10 years.