The International Air Transport Association (IATA) officially announced today from Miami that the 16th edition of the Wings of Change Americas (WOCA) conference will be held on April 8 and 9 in the city of Santiago, Chile. Hosted by LATAM Airlines, the event is positioned as the definitive platform to redefine the role of aviation in the continent's economic architecture, according to IATA statements to the Argentine News Agency. Under the strategic premise "Beyond Borders – Aviation as a Catalyst for Economic Transformation," the forum seeks to build unprecedented collaboration between the private sector and government authorities. WOCA will be the first large-scale meeting in Chile with the participation of representatives of the country's newly elected government. This dialogue is fundamental to align public policies with the operational needs of a sector that projects exponential growth.
Peter Cerdá, IATA's Regional Vice President for the Americas, will lead the sessions alongside a delegation of Chief Executive Officers representing the industry's engine in the region: Roberto Alvo – CEO, LATAM Airlines Group; Daniel Belaunde – CEO, Sky Airlines; Adrián Neuhauser – CEO, Abra Group; Gabriel Oliva – President of Avianca Group; and Estuardo Ortiz – CEO, JetSMART Airlines. The 2026 agenda has been designed to address the structural challenges of the value chain through highly specialized roundtables: Innovation towards "Net Zero": An in-depth analysis on how to overcome geographical and economic barriers to achieve net zero carbon emissions in Latin America. The Technological Triumvirate: Under the motto "Code, Cloud, and Cabin," the disruptive impact of Artificial Intelligence on safety and operational efficiency will be explored. Next-Generation Infrastructure: An airport executives' roundtable focused on modernizing terminals in the Americas to support increasing demand. Cargo Potential: Discussions on how to unlock cross-border trade through more agile and competitive air logistics.
The relevance of this event is supported by compelling figures. Aviation in Latin America and the Caribbean is not just transportation; it is a driver of social well-being. The sector currently supports 8.3 million jobs and contributes $240 billion to the regional GDP (data as of the end of 2023). It is estimated that by 2043, these figures will nearly double, reaching 15 million jobs and an economic contribution of $500 billion. The choice of Santiago as the host city reinforces the importance of the Southern Cone in global connectivity.
