ALTA aviation conference focuses on regulation and competitiveness

International

More than 170 airline executives, lawyers and industry experts discussed legal and aeropolitical challenges facing aviation across Latin America and the Caribbean

More than 170 aviation professionals gathered in Miami from 8 to 10 September for the 17th ALTA Aviation Law Americas Conference. Organised by the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), the annual event brought together airline executives, international organisations, law firms and specialists from the Americas, the Caribbean and Europe.

Discussions focused on how regulatory developments, geopolitical tensions and new technologies are affecting airline operations and the competitiveness of aviation markets across the region.

Regulation and geopolitics shape aviation

Among the major topics were the impact of international sanctions on airline operations, international cooperation in an increasingly fragmented environment and the global implications of the European Union’s EU261 passenger-rights regulation.

Participants also examined U.S. trade and tariff policy, taxation in Brazil and implementation of the Cape Town Convention across Latin America and the Caribbean.

AI, drones and new forms of mobility

Technology formed another major part of the agenda. Experts discussed the regulatory framework for Advanced Air Mobility being developed by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, drone regulation in air cargo, cross-border e-commerce and the legal risks associated with artificial intelligence in the passenger experience.

Operational issues included disruptive passengers, crisis management and questions of legal liability arising from the increasing use of automated systems.

ALTA calls for predictable rules

“The priority is clear: governments and industry must work together to create balanced and predictable rules that allow aviation to grow and generate greater connectivity throughout the region,” said ALTA CEO Peter Cerdá.

According to Cerdá, around 480 million passengers travelled in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2025, demonstrating the market’s growth potential. He also pointed to the recovery of connectivity in Venezuela and regional agreements as possible drivers of new routes, investment and economic development.

The ALTA Aviation Law Americas Conference serves as a specialist forum for regulatory and legal issues affecting aviation in Latin America and the Caribbean, bringing together airlines, regulators and the international legal community.