IATA's Wings Of Change Americas Conference Heads to Santiago

The 16th edition of the aviation industry's premier event in Latin America and the Caribbean will focus on strategic collaboration between the aviation sector and government authorities.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that this year's Wings of Change Americas (WOCA) Conference will be taking place on April 8-9 in Santiago, Chile, with LATAM as the host airline. The conference will focus on how strategic collaboration between the aviation sector and government authorities can expand regional connectivity, accelerate economic growth, and strengthen global competitiveness.

Why it matters

The WOCA conference is a critical event for the Latin American and Caribbean aviation industry, which supports over 8.3 million jobs and generates $240 billion in GDP. The discussions at the conference will highlight how the industry can work with governments to unlock the sector's full economic potential in the region.

The details

The conference will feature panel discussions on topics such as sustainability, infrastructure, regulation, air cargo, and the role of technology and AI in aviation. More than 400 industry leaders and stakeholders are expected to attend, including top airline CEOs from the region.

  • The WOCA conference will take place on April 8-9, 2026.
  • This will be the 16th edition of the conference.

The players

IATA

The International Air Transport Association is the trade association for the world's airlines, representing some 290 airlines or 82% of total air traffic.

LATAM Airlines Group

The largest airline group in Latin America and the host airline for the WOCA conference.

Peter Cerdá

The Regional Vice President for the Americas at IATA, who will be speaking at the event.

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What’s next

The conference will be the first aviation industry event in Chile to welcome representatives of the country's newly elected administration.

The takeaway

The WOCA conference is a crucial platform for the Latin American and Caribbean aviation industry to collaborate with government authorities and unlock the sector's full economic potential in the region.