Aviation leaders discuss airport development at WAGA 2026

During the ACI World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition (WAGA 2026) in Lima, industry leaders discussed the strategic role of airports in economic development and connectivity.

Mexican representatives highlighted the growth of aerospace clusters around airports, such as the Querétaro International Airport, which utilizes a triple helix innovation model to foster job creation and industrial development. Additionally, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP) emphasized the importance of long-term concession certainty, noting a planned investment of over 52 billion pesos for its 12 Mexican airports between 2025 and 2029.

In Peru, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) is working to strengthen regional airport nodes to decentralize tourism from Lima. The strategy aims to bolster connectivity in Cusco, Arequipa, Iquitos, and Chiclayo to facilitate interregional travel and attract new markets, following a 22.3% increase in domestic air traffic.