AAAE Annual Conference & Exposition
The 99th American Association of Airport Executives Annual Conference & Exposition, hosted in Phoenix in partnership with Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Three days bringing the people who run US commercial-service and general aviation airports together with the FAA, airport-industry suppliers, and the broader aviation industry — the focal point for US airport-side policy and operations.
What to expect
Quick facts
Dates
May 16–18, 2027
Location
Phoenix Convention Center
Phoenix, United States
Estimated attendance
~2,500
Exhibitors
~250
Registration
from USD 1,295 AAAE member, USD 1,795 non-member
Languages
EN
Regulatory focus
FAA
Also known as
AAAE, AAAE Annual Conference, American Association of Airport Executives Conference, 99th AAAE, AAAE Annual 2027, AAAEPHX
Who attends
Airport directors, deputy directors, and senior leadership from US commercial-service and reliever airports, FAA Airports District Office staff, airport infrastructure suppliers, ARFF vehicle manufacturers, terminal-systems vendors, airport-software platforms, finance and consulting firms serving the airport sector, and a meaningful contingent of FBO and tenant representatives.
Why flight schools attend
Direct fit is selective and specific. Schools negotiating new airport lease agreements, navigating airfield-use policy changes (curfews, runway-use restrictions, environmental compliance), or considering a relocation to a different airport find genuine value in the airport-director audience — these are the actual decision-makers on policies that materially shape flight school economics. Schools content with their existing airport relationship typically find more direct fit at FSANA or NATA's conference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Selectively. The strategic case is for schools negotiating airport lease agreements, navigating airfield-use policy changes, or considering a relocation — the audience is airport directors and deputies who make those decisions. Schools content with their existing airport relationship usually find better fit at FSANA or NATA's conference.
AAAE represents the airports (airport directors and operators); NATA represents the aviation businesses that operate at airports (FBOs, charter operators, flight schools). The relationship between the two associations is typically cooperative but their conferences serve substantively different audiences and agendas.
The 99th AAAE Annual Conference & Exposition runs May 16-18 2027 at Phoenix Convention Center, hosted in partnership with Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Confirmed via aaae.org/annual.
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Listing last verified May 14, 2026 · Always confirm dates and registration via the official site.