ABL AVIATION AT IATA AGM 2026: ENGAGEMENT, PARTNERSHIPS, AND THE ROAD AHEAD

ABL Aviation joined aviation leaders from across the globe at the IATA 82nd Annual General Meeting & World Air Transport Summit, hosted by LATAM Airlines Group in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 6 to 8 June 2026. As proud sponsors of the IATA AGM for the fifth consecutive year, ABL Aviation was represented by Founder & CEO Ali Ben Lmadani, Chief Technical Officer Donal O’Shea, and Vice President Marketing Carlos Garcia Merino. 

Convening in South America’s largest aviation market, this year’s AGM brought together the top leadership from airlines, OEMs, lessors, and industry organisations to address the complex operational, commercial, and geopolitical dynamics shaping the future of global aviation. For ABL Aviation, the event offered a valuable platform for strategic dialogue, relationship-building, and engagement with the key voices and players across the industry. 

Themes and Conversations 

Ahead of the event, Carlos Garcia Merino shared his expectations for the discussions that would define the event: 

“I expect discussions to focus on geopolitical developments and their impact on fuel prices, airline profitability, and financial resilience. Fleet modernization, capacity discipline, aircraft availability, and network planning will also be high on the agenda. At ABL Aviation, we believe these conditions highlight the value of disciplined credit underwriting and long-term partnerships with airline operators, which have helped us successfully navigate market cycles over time.”  

— Carlos Garcia Merino, Vice President Marketing, ABL Aviation 

Those themes proved central throughout the AGM, as sessions across the three-day programme examined airline financial performance, supply chain pressures, fleet strategy in a constrained delivery environment, and the role of long-term partnerships in navigating uncertainty. 

A Visit to Embraer’s E2 Assembly Plant 

A notable highlight of ABL Aviation’s time in Rio de Janeiro was a visit to the Embraer facilities, where Ali Ben Lmadani and the team were hosted by Francisco Gomes Neto, President and CEO of Embraer. The visit included a tour of Embraer’s E2 Assembly plant, offering first-hand insight into production operations and the engineering capabilities behind one of the world’s leading commercial aircraft programmes. The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange views on multiple facets of the global aviation ecosystem and on areas of potential collaboration.

A Visit to Airbus Canada 

Following the stop at Embraer, the ABL Aviation team also visited Airbus Canada, where discussions centered on the A220 delivery progress, production performance, and delivery schedules. The visit offered meaningful insight into the operational focus driving the A220 platform and reinforced ABL Aviation’s commitment to maintaining strong relationships across the broader aerospace value chain. 

Reflections on the AGM 

Reflecting on his fifth year attending the IATA AGM as a sponsor, Ali Ben Lmadani offered the following:

“It was a pleasure to once again join industry leaders from around the world at this year’s IATA AGM and witness firsthand the constructive dialogue shaping the future of our industry.  As we mark our fifth year as proud sponsors of the IATA AGM, we at ABL Aviation are privileged to be part of the conversations that continue to contribute to the growth and evolution of global aviation. 

What makes the IATA AGM truly unique is the global gathering of top executives from airlines, OEMs, lessors, and industry organizations. Together, we share a wealth of experience, not only in exploring new opportunities but also in navigating the increasingly complex operational, commercial, and geopolitical environments that the aviation industry faces.  

One thing was clear across multiple sessions at this year’s event: the conversations reinforced that the future of aviation will be built through long-term partnerships, shared innovation, and collective problem-solving. At ABL Aviation, we look forward to continuing to play our part in this journey and contributing to the continued growth and success of the global aviation industry.”

— Ali Ben Lmadani, Founder & CEO, ABL Aviation 

ABL Aviation thanks IATA, LATAM Airlines Group, and all partners and counterparties who took the time to connect in Rio de Janeiro. We look forward to continuing these conversations throughout the year. 

For more information on ABL Aviation’s participation and activities at IATA AGM 2026, please visit the ABL Aviation website or connect with the team on LinkedIn.