IATA´s Wings of Change Americas conference sets new milestones

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) successfully held the 2025 edition of Wings of Change Americas (WOCA) in Bogotá, with the support of host airline Avianca.

The conference, held on June 25 and 26, was themed "The Connectivity Frontier: Exploring New Opportunities in the Region," highlighting the importance of collaboration between industry and government agencies as a key factor in strengthening regional connectivity and improving competitiveness.

Air transport is a key driver of the Latin American and Caribbean economy, generating 8.3 million jobs and contributing $240 billion to regional GDP. However, the average number of trips per citizen in the region remains at just 0.65 per year, compared to more than 2.5 in North America and 4.5 in Spain. Given this situation, the conference highlighted the joint commitment to expanding access to this mode of transport and consolidating it as a strategic tool for economic and social development.

During the event, renowned industry leaders shared inspiring visions and ideas. Among them were CEOs such as Adrian Neuhauser (Abra Group), Frederico Pedreira (Avianca), Erika Zarante Bahamón (LATAM Airlines Colombia), Pedro Heilbron (Copa Airlines), Estuardo Ortiz (JetSMART Airlines), Eduardo Lombana (Wingo), Roberto Roselli (Plus Ultra), Felipe Gutiérrez Forero (Clic Air), and Óscar Zuluaga Castaño (SATENA).

IATA thanked Carlos Galán, Mayor of Bogotá, for his participation, who highlighted the importance of El Dorado International Airport for the city, the country, and the region. It also highlighted the intervention of José Henry Pinto Rodríguez, Director General of Colombia's Civil Aeronautics, who offered a detailed overview of the country's aviation sector and reaffirmed his commitment to the operational efficiency of El Dorado.

The event included the renowned "Women in Aviation" breakfast, where it was especially inspiring to hear Erika Zarante Bahamón, CEO of LATAM Colombia, share her journey to becoming the first woman to lead an airline in the country.

On the eve of WOCA 2025, IATA and UN Tourism organized a Ministerial Roundtable that brought together representatives from ten tourism ministries in Latin America and the Caribbean along with airline executives. This event sought to strengthen connectivity in the region and facilitated more than fifty bilateral meetings between governments and airlines.

Peter Cerdá, IATA's Regional Vice President for the Americas, highlighted: “The Wings of Change Americas conference in Bogotá has set a new benchmark for collaboration and innovation in our region. By bringing together industry leaders and government authorities, we are paving the way toward a more connected and competitive future for Latin America and the Caribbean.”

IATA looks forward to continuing its collaboration with UN Tourism, especially in view of the upcoming Summit of the Americas, to be held in Punta Cana in early December 2025, and to working with Carlos Peguero, Deputy Minister of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, to support the inclusion of aviation and tourism on the summit's agenda.

The next edition of Wings of Change Americas (WOCA) will take place in Chile in April 2026.

Source: IATA.