Don’t Wait for the Crisis: ACI World Urges Governments to Plan Airport Capacity Now, Starting with Slot Rules and Investment

At the ACI-LAC/World Annual General Assembly in Lima, ACI World calls on policymakers to treat capacity as a national economic priority.

Lima, 28 September 2026 – Airports Council International (ACI) World today called on governments to make increasing airport capacity part of long-term national infrastructure and economic planning. It urged them to modernise the frameworks that govern slots and market access while adopting stable regulation that attracts the investment the system needs.

Speaking at the ACI-LAC/World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition in Lima, ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci said: “The industry will need to invest USD 4.6 trillion by 2055 just to meet the growth already coming its way. But we cannot simply build our way out of this challenge. Capacity creation means getting more from existing infrastructure, working as one system with airlines and air navigation service providers, and creating policy so that infrastructure can deliver its full benefits—connecting people and markets while also enhancing regional economic value.”

Slots are a central test of that approach. Following the release of its white paper earlier this month, ACI World is taking the conversation to governments and regulators worldwide. Its message is that slot policy is no longer a technical scheduling matter but a matter of strategic public interest, shaping communities and economies for years to come.

“When capacity is scarce, decisions about who can fly, where, and when shape connectivity, competition and passenger choice,” said Erbacci. “We are asking governments to plan ahead for aviation growth, enable capacity before it reaches crisis point and modernise regulatory frameworks and slot policies. And we cannot ask airports to expand capacity while limiting their ability to finance it. The equation simply does not work.”

ACI World is also calling on regulators to provide stable, proportionate frameworks that encourage long-term investment, and on finance ministries to look beyond the immediate revenue aviation can generate—to the far greater economic value connectivity creates.

A global gathering in Lima

The ACI-LAC/World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition is taking place in Lima from 25 to 29 September 2026. It is co-organised with ACI Latin America and Caribbean and hosted by Lima Airport. The event is bringing together more than 600 aviation leaders, government representatives, and industry partners from over 60 countries.

“Latin America and the Caribbean has long been one of aviation’s great growth stories, and there is no better place to talk about the future of our industry,” said Erbacci. “I thank ACI-LAC for partnering with us, and Lima Airport for an exceptional welcome.”

Event highlights include:

• Global and regional state of the airport industry presentations featuring Justin Erbacci (Director General, ACI World) and Rafael Echevarne (Director General, ACI-LAC), alongside welcome remarks from Juan José Salmón (President of ACI-LAC and CEO of Lima Airport).
• An address by Peru’s Minister of Transport and Communications, José Angello Tangherlini.
• Around 20 executive sessions covering critical industry topics such as infrastructure and capacity, digital transformation, Advanced Air Mobility, and sustainability.
• “Women in Airports” initiative launch, dedicated to driving real inclusivity and empowering women in the airport industry to develop and flourish in their careers.
• Recognition ceremony marking 15 years of ACI’s Airport Excellence Programme (APEX), celebrating nearly 250 peer-led airport safety and security reviews worldwide.
• Air Transport Summit: Strategic discussions on shaping the future of aviation in Latin America and the Caribbean, featuring dedicated workshops on airport charges and slot policies.

About ACI 

Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world’s airports, is a federated organisation comprising ACI World, ACI Africa, ACI Asia-Pacific and Middle East, ACI EUROPE, ACI Latin America and the Caribbean and ACI North America. In representing the best interests of airports during key phases of policy development, ACI makes a significant contribution toward ensuring a global air transport system that is safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally sustainable. As of January 2026, ACI serves 811 members, operating over 2,200 airports in more than 160 countries worldwide.