Edmonton to Host GAD Americas and CAPA Airline Leader Summit Americas in 2027

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Edmonton to Host GAD Americas and CAPA Airline Leader Summit Americas in 2027

Leading airport investors and airline executives to convene in Canada as the country enters a pivotal new era for aviation investment and development

CAPA - Centre for Aviation (CAPA) and Global Airport Development (GAD) announced today that Edmonton, Alberta, will host two of the Americas' leading aviation leadership events in June 2027, bringing together senior airline executives, airport operators, investors, financiers, policymakers and aviation industry leaders from across the region and beyond.

GAD Americas will take place in Edmonton on 9-10 June, 2027, followed by the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Americas on 10-11 June, 2027, creating three days of high-level discussion focused on the investment, infrastructure and strategic issues shaping the future of aviation across the Americas.

The events will be held in Canada at a significant time for the country's airport sector. In September 2026, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the federal government would seek private investment through long-term concessions to operate Canada's four largest airports. Under the proposed model, the Canadian government would retain ownership of the underlying land and assets while introducing private capital and operational expertise. Funds raised through the initiative are expected to be reinvested in regional airports, transportation infrastructure and other major national infrastructure projects.

The announcement builds on broader efforts by the Canadian government to attract private and third-party investment in the country's airport system, including consideration of alternative operating and investment models.

Against this backdrop, GAD Americas 2027 will place Edmonton at the center of an increasingly important global discussion about airport ownership, investment and infrastructure development.

The Global Airport Development forum is the leading airport strategy and finance conference for the Americas. It brings together public- and private-sector airport operators, infrastructure investors, financiers, regulators, government representatives and industry specialists.

The 2027 program will examine how airport owners and operators can unlock investment, deliver major infrastructure projects and build financially resilient businesses at a time when governments and airports across the region are evaluating new approaches to funding, ownership and public-private participation.

Running alongside GAD Americas on 10 June, the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Americas will add the perspective of airline CEOs and senior aviation executives, creating a unique forum in which the future requirements of airlines and airports can be considered together. CAPA's Americas Summit will examine the forces transforming aviation across North America and the wider Americas, including airline strategy, network development, changing market dynamics, cost pressures, technology, partnerships and the evolution of the passenger experience.

Claudia Kunz, Senior Director, Events, CAPA and GAD, said: "Canada is entering an incredibly significant period for aviation investment. The federal government's decision to seek private investment in the operation of its four largest airports has the potential to stimulate a much wider conversation about how airport infrastructure across the country is funded, developed and operated. That makes Canada an extremely timely location for GAD Americas. It will allow this highly specialised and influential community the opportunity to explore what these developments could mean not only for Canada, but for infrastructure investment across the Americas."

Kunz added: "By bringing GAD Americas and the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Americas together, we can broaden that conversation further. Airport investment ultimately needs to respond to the changing requirements of airlines, passengers and communities. Bringing those groups together creates an important opportunity to examine the future of the aviation ecosystem from both sides."

Myron Keehn, President & CEO, YEG, said: "It's an honour for Edmonton to host the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Americas and GAD Americas next June. Bringing global leaders in aviation and investment to our region reflects the growing importance of Edmonton and Alberta in the global aviation landscape. As YEG strengthens connections to markets around the world, this is an opportunity to showcase our region's ambition, economic potential and capacity for growth. We look forward to building relationships, advancing new opportunities and creating connections that will deliver lasting value for our region."

The colocation will enable delegates attending GAD Americas and the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Americas to connect across both communities, bringing together the organisations financing and developing aviation infrastructure with the airline leaders whose strategies will determine future demand.

GAD Americas 2027 will take place in Edmonton on 9-10 June 2027. The CAPA Airline Leader Summit Americas will take place on 10-11 June 2027.