Welcome introduction from Routes. Hear what you can expect over the course of the event.
Routes Americas 2026
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil • ExpoRio CIDADE NOVA
• 3 – 5 March 2026
Conference Programme
The Routes Americas conference programme will feature senior leaders from the region's air service development and aviation industries to outline the latest market insights, analyse trends and share expert advice that will inform your business strategy.
Expect over 15 hours of CEO interviews, panel discussions, airline briefings and best practice workshops that will provide you with exclusive insight into the key air service development issues driving change within the industry.
Platinum Conference Sponsors
Airbus always has been at the forefront of innovating new technologies, with a pioneering spirit that has redefined the aerospace industry. Our products bring people closer together, helping them unite and progress. We strive to continually push the boundaries on what is possible to safeguard our world for future generations. Find out more
Helping airports communicate the right message at the right time. As the aviation industry continues to navigate numerous challenges, creative messaging remains especially important. Our goal is to provide marketing support, creative resources, and ideas to help you reach your target audience with the most relevant message in a creative way. Find out more
Gold Conference Sponsor
We are the Peruvian company responsible for the operation, maintenance, and construction work at Jorge Chavez International Airport – Lima, Peru. During 2025, we connected 26 million passengers to 43 international and 19 domestic destinations. Find out more
Tuesday, 3 March 2026
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Opening Remarks
Hear more about why Routes Americas 2026 is taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Collaborating for Connectivity
How Stakeholders Can Drive Sustainable Route Development
This panel explores why close collaboration between airlines, airports, city halls, and tourism boards is essential for the successful development of new air routes. It will showcase how aligning strategies across these stakeholders can mitigate risks, drive demand, and ensure the long-term sustainability of air routes. The discussion will explore the unique challenges faced by each stakeholder—such as commercial risks for airlines and policy or funding limitations for city halls—and provide insights into practical solutions to overcome these obstacles.
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Networking Break
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CEO Keynote Interview: GOL
Join Celso Guimarães Ferrer Junior, CEO of GOL, for a forward-looking discussion on the airline’s post-restructuring strategy and the shifting dynamics of Latin American aviation. Fresh from exiting Chapter 11 with $1.9 billion in new financing and a renewed fleet plan, GOL is working to restore capacity, clear its engine maintenance backlog and rebuild operational resilience under the stewardship of Abra Group. Ferrer will outline how the carrier is sharpening its cost base, managing market saturation, and taking a more disciplined approach to growth. With more than 17 years at GOL, he brings a grounded and pragmatic perspective on what it takes to navigate a challenging market and emerge stronger.
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Keynote Address: Airbus
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Networking Lunch
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Fireside Chat: State of the Airline Industry
This session will examine the state of the airline industry in the Americas and the opportunities ahead in 2026 and beyond. It will address the long-term growth forecasts for the region and explore the strategic changes needed to ensure sustainable and competitive air connectivity. The discussion will also analyse how evolving business models, ongoing consolidation, and advancements in aircraft technology are transforming the airline landscape, shaping the future of the industry.
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Keynote Address: State of the Airport Industry
This session will explore the current state of the airport industry in the Americas and the opportunities ahead.
What are the long-term growth forecasts for the region? What changes are required to ensure sustainable and competitive air connectivity? How changing business models, ongoing consolidation and new aircraft fleet altering the landscape as we know it?
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Taxation, Regulation, and Competitiveness: Navigating the Cost Burden on Latin American Aviation
High taxes and fees, which can account for up to two-thirds of a passenger ticket's cost, are stifling aviation growth in Latin America and the Caribbean. Airlines are increasingly challenging rising airport charges and VAT proposals, such as Brazil’s potential 26% rate, which further strain the industry.
This session will examine how governments can balance fiscal demands with the economic benefits aviation brings, while addressing whether airlines are unfairly treated as revenue sources. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges posed by taxation and regulation and explore strategies to foster sustainable growth in the region.
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Networking Break
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CEO Keynote Interview
Wednesday, 4 March 2026
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Azul Brazilian Airlines CEO John Rodgerson will set out how the carrier is steering through one of the most consequential periods in its 17-year history. Founded by executives with strong JetBlue roots, São Paulo-based Azul has grown into a nationwide network serving nearly 130 Brazilian cities, alongside international services to Europe and the US, accounting for around 28% of domestic seat capacity. In this session, Rodgerson will reflect on Azul’s evolution, its Chapter 11 restructuring and the strategic decisions shaping the airline’s future—from fleet and network optimisation to the changing dynamics of consolidation in Brazil’s airline market following the collapse of merger talks with rival GOL.
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Networking Break
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New Aircraft, New Routes: A New Era of Network Competition
Next-generation aircraft such as the Airbus A321XLR and A220 are reshaping airline route maps, enabling carriers to serve thinner long-haul and mid-range routes and unlock new city pairs that were not previously commercially viable.
With lower trip costs, extended range and improved efficiency, these aircraft are accelerating hub-bypass strategies and opening up secondary and underserved markets.
Nowhere are these shifts more strategically significant than in long-haul markets such as the transatlantic, where capacity growth, intensifying competition and uneven route performance are already putting pressure on yields. As A321XLR deliveries accelerate from 2026, airlines such as American Airlines and Air Canada plan to launch new transatlantic services that challenge traditional hub-and-spoke models and fragment traffic flows.
This panel will explore how next-generation aircraft are transforming route economics and competitive dynamics, what new city-pair opportunities are emerging, and what this means for established long-haul operators as they adapt network strategies to manage overcapacity risk, defend core routes and capture new growth opportunities.
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The Americas’ Route to Net Zero: Overcoming Regional Sustainability Challenges
Sustainability continues to be a critical focus for the aviation industry, but significant hurdles remain. The high cost and limited supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), particularly in Latin America, are compounded by infrastructure challenges. This panel will bring together key stakeholders to discuss the path to net zero in the Americas, exploring innovative solutions, partnerships, and policies to accelerate progress. Topics will include SAF development, operational efficiencies, and the role of airports in driving sustainability initiatives.
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Smarter Airports: Leveraging Data and Passenger Experience for Growth
Airports are under growing pressure to operate more efficiently, compete more effectively and deliver a higher-quality passenger experience. From smarter use of data and analytics to the rise of premium airport services and lounges, the airport ecosystem is being reshaped by technology, partnerships and changing traveller expectations.
This panel will explore how airports can combine intelligence, service innovation and collaboration to drive growth, improve decision-making and elevate the end-to-end passenger journey—from route development and commercial strategy to passenger satisfaction and brand differentiation.
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Overcoming the Supply Crunch: Navigating Workforce and Fleet Constraints
Aircraft delivery delays, maintenance challenges, and pilot shortages are reshaping how airlines deploy capacity. With grounded fleets and rising labor costs, route planners are prioritizing markets with strong demand and stable profitability. Airlines like Copa are reallocating aircraft to high-performing routes, while carriers such as JetBlue and Spirit are scaling back weaker services to maintain operational stability. This panel will explore strategies for overcoming supply chain and workforce constraints, ensuring efficient capacity deployment, and sustaining growth in a challenging environment.
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Thursday, 5 March 2026
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Spotlight on the Caribbean: Aviation Connectivity
Improving intra-Caribbean air travel remains one of the region’s most pressing challenges—and greatest opportunities. This panel brings together senior government leaders tourism organisations to explore practical pathways for strengthening connectivity across island nations.
Discussions will examine new models for airline–destination collaboration, the role of regional partnerships in expanding sustainable route networks, and solutions to climate-related challenges such as seasonal service disruptions. With tourism-dependent economies relying heavily on reliable air links, this session offers valuable insight into how the Caribbean can build a more resilient, accessible, and interconnected aviation ecosystem.
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Exhibitor Networking
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Exclusive updates direct from key airline decision makers and network planners.
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Airline Briefing
Exclusive updates direct from key airline decision makers and network planners.
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Exclusive updates direct from key airline decision makers and network planners.
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Airline Briefing
Exclusive updates direct from key airline decision makers and network planners.
* Please note like all events, the programme is subject to change.
Speakers
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Steven Small
Director Events, Routes -
Veronica Paddock
Marketing Director Fleet & Network Planning, Airbus -
Vijay Bathija
Chief Revenue Officer, Flair Airlines -
Henri-Charles Ozarovsky
Head of Strategy, Network & Partnerships, TAP Air Portugal -
Robert Kokonis
President & Managing Director, AirTrav-ICF -
Peter Cerdá
CEO / Regional VP – The Americas, ALTA / IATA