16th ALTA Aviation Law Americas will explore the challenges and opportunities for aviation in Latin America and the Caribbean

This event will bring together industry leaders, law firms, airlines and regulatory experts to discuss the challenges and developments that define the region's aeropolitical landscape.

The conference, organized by the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), provides a favorable environment for the analysis of key issues such as regional integration, environmental challenges, taxation and consumer protection.

One of the main focuses of discussion will be the progress and challenges facing aviation regulation in the region. José Ricardo Botelho, executive director and CEO of ALTA, acknowledges that “the region has seen regulatory progress, such as the recent series of improvements that Argentina has made to the laws governing commercial aviation, which highlight the essential nature of aviation for the economy and society. These are modifications that seek to improve the regulatory competitiveness of the country to encourage the growth of the sector. However, there is still much to be done on fundamental issues for a competitive and sustainable industry not only in Argentina but throughout the region. Efficient regulations translate into better operating contexts and this results in better and more options for users, so that more people can fly, so that more jobs are generated through aeronautical activity, so that the economy has more dynamism.”

ALTA Aviation Law Americas will also discuss persistent obstacles such as bureaucracy, disproportionate costs and lack of consensus on public policies in key areas such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). In addition, the problem of excessive litigation in Brazil, the largest country in the region, will be discussed, among other relevant topics.

Event agenda and featured speakers

The conference will be structured primarily around panels that will explore a wide range of topics relevant to the industry. The agenda includes the participation of renowned experts.

On Thursday, September 19, the day will begin with an opening ceremony led by Hernán Gomez, Undersecretary of Air Transport of Argentina, María Julia Cordero, Intervenor of ANAC Argentina and José Ricardo Botelho, Executive Director of ALTA.

The first panel of the day, entitled "Roadmap for regional integration in Latin America," will feature the participation of leaders such as Viviana Martin, Global Director of Institutional Relations at Avianca, Ricardo Catanant, Director of ANAC Brazil, Paola Plá, Deputy Director General of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC), Jaime Binder, Secretary of CLAC, Mauricio Sana, CEO of Flybondi, and Hernán Gomez. Together, they will discuss strategies to improve regional connectivity and the challenges facing Latin American countries.

The next panel, titled “Overcoming environmental challenges in aviation”, will focus on the development of sustainable fuels (SAF), industry commitments and regulatory harmonization. Milena Fajardo, Head of Fuel and Sustainability at ALTA, Carolina Betancort, Manager New Business Bio renewables at BioD SA, Eliseo Llamazares, Head of Aviation and partner at KPMG and Eduardo Macedo, Head Public Affairs and Institutional Relations at LATAM Brazil and Oracio Marques, Regional Director of External Affairs and Sustainability at IATA, will lead this crucial conversation.

After a break, the conference will continue with a presentation entitled “Decoding Aviation Economics” by Koen Karsbergen, Partner at Air52 Aviation Consultants. This segment will focus on how airline operations impact legal strategies.

Later, the panel on tax challenges entitled “Threats to the airline industry in Latin America” will feature the participation of Carlos Protto, Director of International Tax Relations for Argentina, Marcelo Guaranys, partner at Demarest Attorneys and Lygia da Fonseca, Global Director of Tax Policy at IATA. The tax challenges and tax pressures that a possible change in UN regulation affects all global aviation will be addressed.

The afternoon will continue with the panel “Beyond the ordinary: Unruly passengers and peculiar cases in Latin American aviation”. Ivette Franco, Senior Legal Director of Copa Airlines, Richard Galindo, Legal Director of Avianca, Luisa Medina, partner at Di Ciero Advogados, Thiago Carvalho, partner at ASBZ Advogados and Francisco Prat, partner at Prat & Cia Abogados, will present unique cases and how airlines manage these situations.

Thursday will close with the panel “Striking the balance: Consumer protection and mitigation of excessive litigation in Latin America.” This space, led by Ricardo Bernardi, partner at Bernardi & Schnapp Advogados, Bruno Bartijotto, Legal Director at LATAM Brazil, Eugenia Torres, Head of Aircraft Registration at ANAC Argentina, Flávio Igel, partner at Nantes Mello Advogados, Cecilia Demarco, Legal Director at JetSMART and Agustín Ojea, Chief Legal Officer at Flybondi, will analyze how to find a balance between protecting passengers’ rights and limiting over-litigation.

On Friday, September 20, the day will kick off with the panel “Opening the mind on aircraft supply options”. Marcelo Mello, partner at Nantes e Mello Advogados, Roberto Held, Business Development Head for the Americas and Diego Fargosi, partner at Fargosi ​​Abogados will share their knowledge on fleet strategies and the challenges of aircraft acquisition and leasing.

Next, the panel “Cargo of Dangerous Goods: Legal Considerations and Regulatory Compliance” will feature the experience of Ricardo Maluf from Maluf e Rodrigues Advogados, Sergio Martins from Beaumont & Son Advogados and Marco Subía, partner at Naranjo Martínez y Subía Law Firm, who will address the challenges and regulations governing the transportation of dangerous goods.

Finally, the conference will conclude with the panel “Infrastructure Restrictions in Latin America – Impacts on Operations and Legal Consequences”. In this panel, Juan Sarmiento, Head of Economics and User Fees at ALTA, Carlos Campillo, partner at Alegre, Calderón y Márquez Abogados, Olga Ramirez, President of CADA and partner at Martinez Quintero Mendoza Gonzalez Laguado & De La Rosa Abogados, Humberto Lopez, Director International and Regulatory Affairs at Delta and Carlos Gutierrez, General Manager of AETAI, will discuss how infrastructure limitations affect airlines and the legal implications they entail.

ALTA Aviation Law Americas 2024 will be a key space to discuss the regulations that will define the future of air transport in Latin America. With an agenda packed with crucial topics and the participation of international experts, this event is consolidating itself as an essential platform to promote solutions that strengthen the industry in an increasingly complex environment.

Source: ALTA.