Aviation Day Canada Lands in Ottawa
14 September 2026 (Montreal/Ottawa) – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) will jointly host Aviation Day Canada, a forum highlighting priorities for Canada’s aviation sector, on 8 October 2026 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
The event is expected to bring together more than 300 attendees, including CEOs and senior executives from the airline industry, Canada’s largest airports, senior representatives from government regulators, international organizations, suppliers, and media representatives, creating valuable opportunities for networking and collaboration.
Air travel is instrumental in fostering tourism, developing business, enhancing connectivity and regional access, and sustaining economic activity. According to IATA’s Value of Aviation Report, in Canada the wider aviation industry supply chain contributes a total of CAD 114 billion to the country’s GDP and supports 809,000 jobs. It is therefore imperative for Canada to implement measures that promote a more competitive, accessible, sustainable and affordable aviation system. By advancing these priorities, Canada can position itself for long-term economic resilience and growth, ensuring that air transport continues to play a pivotal role in the country’s development.
The agenda will address the unique challenges facing the country’s aviation sector, covering topics such as competitiveness, affordability, passenger rights, passenger experience, sustainability, airport privatization and infrastructure, and connectivity. This reflects the crucial role air transport plays in driving Canada’s economic growth.
A highlight of the event will be the Airline Leadership Roundtable discussing the challenges and opportunities facing the Canadian aviation sector, featuring Annick Guérard, President and CEO of Air Transat; Michael Deluce, CEO of Porter Airlines; Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of WestJet, and Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Public Affairs, Air Canada.
Other influential voices that will be participating in Aviation Day Canada include:
▪ Hon. Lisa Raitt, Former Minister of Transport, Canada; Managing Director, CIBC Capital Markets
▪ Neil Parry – Interim President & CEO, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA)
▪ Mark Cooper – President & CEO, NAV CANADA
▪ Hon. Caitlan Cleveland, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Northwest Territories
▪ Deborah Flint – President & CEO, Toronto Pearson International Airport
▪ Chris Dinsdale – President & CEO, Calgary Airports
▪ Myron Keehn – President & CEO, Edmonton International Airport
▪ Johanne Gallant – President & CEO, Fredericton International Airport
▪ Stéphane Poirier – President & CEO, Québec City Jean-Lesage International Airport
▪ Stephanie Cadieux – Chief Accessibility Officer, Government of Canada
▪ Julie Mailhot – President & CEO, Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC)
▪ Sharon Pinkerton- Senior Vice President, Airlines for America
▪ Tim Alderslade – Chief Executive, Airlines UK
▪ Jeff Morrison – President & CEO, National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC)
▪ Peter Cerdá – Regional Vice President, The Americas, IATA
▪ Doug Lavin – Vice President Member & External Relations North America, IATA
Media wishing to be accredited for the event should email aviationdaycanada@iata.org.
Proceedings will be predominantly in English, with simultaneous translation available.
View the Aviation Day Canada program and register
– IATA / NACC –
For more information, please contact:
IATA Corporate Communications – The Americas
Tel: +1 438 258 3155
Email: ruedigerm@iata.org
Notes for Editors:
▪ IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents over 370 airlines accounting for some 85% of global air traffic.
▪ You can follow us at follow us on X for announcements, policy positions, and other useful industry information.
▪ About the National Airlines Council of Canada: The National Airlines Council of Canada represents Canada’s largest national and international passenger air carriers: Air Canada, Air Transat, Jazz Aviation LP and WestJet. It promotes safe, sustainable, accessible and competitive air travel by advocating for the development of policies, regulations and legislation to foster a world-class transportation system. In 2024, air transportation contributed an estimated 3.8% of Canada’s GDP, and supported 809,000 jobs in Canada.