ALTA CCMA & MRO Conference Evaluates Industry Challenges

Industry executives at the ALTA CCMA & MRO Conference emphasized the need to address infrastructure and personnel challenges to maintain sustained growth in the aviation industry.

The conference, organized by the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), took place in Cancun, Quintana Roo, and brought together top aviation executives to discuss the challenges and operational trends in Latin America and the Caribbean. Attendees included industry leaders such as: Albert Perez, SVP of Maintenance, Avianca; Carlos García, Partner, Oliver Wyman; Diego Giorgiadis, Technical Director, Aerolíneas Argentinas; and Santiago Diago, COO, Aeroméxico. The executives highlighted the remarkable recovery of passenger numbers in the region in 2022, as several markets experienced significant growth.

During the ALTA CCMA & MRO Conference, the executives praised Mexico's flexible policies on international travel during the pandemic, which contributed to the country's outstanding passenger growth. Giorgiadis highlighted Mexico's stable exchange rate, which enabled Mexicans to travel abroad and facilitated dynamic passenger flows.

Other countries have also sharply recovered their passenger traffic, to the benefit of their aviation industry. "Colombia is very strong in terms of passengers, and at Avianca, we are pleased with the progress of our business plan following Chapter 11," says Perez. Avianca is following a similar Chapter 11 procedure to the one carried out by Aeroméxico. The latter completed a successful restructuring process within a two-year period, as reported by MBN.

The executives agreed that the industry is on track to maintain sustained growth rates for the next 12 to 18 months. However, they also emphasized the importance of addressing two major challenges affecting operations: infrastructure and personnel.

Giorgiadis pointed out that Mexico's Category 2 status hinders traffic growth to the US, which is the world's largest international market. He also highlighted the difficulties arising from having two competing airports in the same region and proposed that all stakeholders collaborate to find the best solution to optimize the current circumstances. He also warned that young professionals are exploring alternative industries or regions that offer diverse opportunities and better compensation. 

Perez stressed that talent retention and training are major challenges in the industry. The panel discussed the possibility of recruiting talent from outside the aviation industry to bring in fresh perspectives and skills.

Competing compensation packages are one of the most complex challenges for the industry. Career progression, effective leadership and a strong emphasis on work-life balance are considered essential compensations for the workforce. Talent management has also proven to be complex, leading the industry to attract professionals from other industries. Perez highlighted that facing these challenges will enhance competitiveness and enable sustainable growth within the aviation sector.