oneworld has opened the 18th Aviation Festival Americas as the event’s Official Alliance Partner, bringing its executives together with aviation leaders from across North and South America for two days of talks on the future of commercial flight. The festival takes place in Miami on 3 and 4 June 2026.
The gathering draws more than 2,000 airline, airport and travel technology professionals from the United States, Canada and Latin America. Sessions span commercial strategy, loyalty innovation, digital technology, artificial intelligence, customer experience and sustainability.
As Official Alliance Partner, oneworld leads panels, workshops and keynotes throughout the program. The alliance represents 15 member airlines and more than 20 affiliates, including American Airlines, British Airways and Cathay Pacific, giving it broad reach into the issues facing the industry in the Americas and worldwide.
“It is a consequential time for oneworld and for our industry,” said Ole Orvér, CEO of oneworld. “As we continue to elevate the customer experience, advance our digital transformation and expand our global network, most recently welcoming Hawaiian Airlines as our third U.S. member, opportunities like Aviation Festival Americas are invaluable for bringing together industry leaders to exchange ideas and help shape aviation’s future.”
The appearance marks one of Orvér‘s first major industry stages since becoming chief executive. He takes the stage alongside fellow oneworld executives to set out the alliance’s evolving strategy and the wider forces shaping global air travel.
The oneworld speaker line-up across the two days includes Roger Blackburn, Vice President, Commercial and Loyalty; Gerhard Girkinger, Vice President, Customer Experience and Airports; and Guido Van Til, Vice President, Digital.
They are joined by Chris Gilliland, Director, Airport Experience; Maria McKinnon, Director, Brand and Marketing; Gilbert Ott, Director, Loyalty; and Matthew Ridley, Director, Sustainability and Innovation.
The partnership reflects a shared focus between oneworld and the festival organiser, Terrapinn, on innovation and shaping how people will fly in the region. The two-day program is built around executive panels, interactive sessions and strategic discussions exploring the commercial and technological pressures reshaping the sector.
The timing is significant for the alliance. oneworld continues to strengthen its footprint across the Americas, and the addition of Hawaiian Airlines as its third US member, which took official effect on 23 April 2026, deepened its presence in the United States and the Pacific. The carrier joined as part of its parent Alaska Air Group, following Hawaiian’s merger with Alaska Airlines.
For the wider industry, Aviation Festival Americas has grown into one of the most influential aviation gatherings in the region. It positions Miami as a strategic hub where airline, airport and technology decision-makers compare regional trends with global developments.
The discussions in Miami centre on themes that increasingly define competition between carriers and alliances, from artificial intelligence and automation to modern retailing, loyalty programs and sustainable operations. For oneworld, the event is a platform to connect those global priorities with the specific opportunities and challenges of the Americas.
The alliance says it will keep building value for customers through enhanced connectivity, digital innovation and more seamless travel across its member network. Its lead role in Miami underlines how alliances are using such forums to set out their direction and respond to a fast-changing commercial landscape.
