Airport investment, operational efficiency and regional connectivity will feature prominently at the ACI-LAC/World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition in Lima, Peru, from 25 to 29 September 2026. Jointly organised by ACI World and ACI Latin America and the Caribbean, WAGA 2026 will be hosted by Lima Airport Partners.
More than 500 airport industry leaders and professionals are expected in the Peruvian capital, according to ACI-LAC. The gathering will bring airport operators, public authorities and international organisations together to discuss how infrastructure, technology and governance can support the next phase of aviation development.
The Caribbean’s airport sector features among the announced speakers. Representatives include Shane Munroe of MBJ Airports, operator of Sangster International Airport in Jamaica; Cyril Girot of AERODOM; and Teófilo Gómez of Cibao International Airport in the Dominican Republic. Their participation places Caribbean airport businesses within a wider discussion involving operators from across the world.
Investment, operations and airport revenues
WAGA 2026’s published programme connects infrastructure development with the operational and commercial choices facing airport managers. Three priorities stand out:
- Investment and capacity: national airport strategies, private-sector participation and further airport development in Peru.
- Operational performance: airspace coordination, digital transformation and the role of airports in advanced air mobility.
- Commercial development: non-aeronautical revenues and the evolution of the passenger experience.
Sessions will also examine how airports integrate with cities, communities and logistics networks. A presentation on apron control at Lima Airport will bring an operational case study into the discussions.
The investment debate comes at a more uncertain point in the traffic cycle. In figures released on 23 September, ACI World reported a record 9.8 billion airport passengers worldwide in 2025, with Latin America and the Caribbean recording growth of 4.5%. Global passenger traffic growth subsequently slowed to 0.6% in the first half of 2026.
“Meeting that demand means expanding capacity while getting far more out of the infrastructure we already have,” said Justin Erbacci, Director General of ACI World.
The transformation of Jorge Chávez International Airport provides a concrete backdrop to WAGA 2026’s discussions on infrastructure investment, operational performance and the development of regional hubs.
Lima provides a concrete infrastructure backdrop
The transformation of Jorge Chávez International Airport gives WAGA’s investment agenda a local reference point. In May 2025, Fraport announced the new terminal’s opening, with the transfer from the previous facility scheduled for the night of 31 May to 1 June.
The approximately US$2 billion expansion programme covered the terminal and associated infrastructure, including a second runway, a new air traffic control tower, aircraft parking positions and energy supply facilities. Fraport also described the development of an airport city linking aviation with cargo, logistics, retail and hotels.
The Lima project provides a useful lens through which to assess the conference agenda: how additional infrastructure can support operational performance, commercial activity and a stronger regional hub.
Regional connectivity discussions will continue on 30 September
A separate Air Transport Summit will follow WAGA in Lima on 30 September. Convened by ACI-LAC, the International Civil Aviation Organization, Peru’s Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics and the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission, the summit will address regional connectivity, regulatory frameworks, passenger facilitation and airport governance.
The event website outlines a Peru-led cooperation initiative focused on more direct connections between secondary cities and regional markets, regulatory pilot mechanisms and better use of existing airport capacity.
Participating authorities are expected to consider a cooperation declaration on decentralised air connectivity and regulatory innovation. The text remains under discussion and is subject to approval and signature. The outcome will provide a concrete point of follow-up after Lima’s airport industry discussions.
LATITUDE15 is a media partner of the ACI-LAC/World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition — WAGA 2026, in Lima, Peru.
What is WAGA 2026?
WAGA 2026 is the ACI-LAC/World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition, bringing together airport industry leaders and partners.
When and where will WAGA 2026 take place?
ACI World lists the overall event dates as 25–29 September 2026 in Lima, Peru. The programme includes institutional meetings ahead of the main conference sessions.
What airport priorities will WAGA 2026 address?
The programme includes infrastructure investment, operational efficiency, digital transformation, commercial revenues, passenger experience and regional development.
Has the proposed regional connectivity declaration been adopted?
No. As of 24 September 2026, the declaration remains under discussion, with consideration expected at the 30 September summit in Lima.
