Airports Council International

Airports Council International, also known as Airports Council International WORLD (ACI-World), is a trade association that represents airport operators throughout the world. ACI-World aligns airports worldwide to advance agreed-upon positions on international issues, produces data on airports and aviation, and promotes the left-of-center principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). 1  2

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At-A-Glance

Type: Organization, Other
Ideological Alignment: Left of Center
Website: aci.aero
Location:

Montreal, Canada

Formation:

1948

Director General:

Justin Erbacci

Contents

    ACI-World is made up of five regional hubs representing North America, Latin America, Africa, Europe, and East Asia and the Middle East. 3  4

    History and Activities

    Airports Council International is a trade association that represents airports throughout the world, including by advocating for legislation and regulations that it argues will help airports operate more effectively. Airports Council International was founded in 1948 and represents the airport industry before the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations that facilitates international civilian air travel. Airports Council International is based on Montreal, Canada, which is the home city of the ICAO.  1  3

    According to its 2025 to 2030 strategic plan, ACI-World’s seeks to align airports to advance agreed upon positions on issues of global importance, to produce the best data on airports and aviation, to meet expected growth needs at airports and improve customer experience, and to develop programs that recognize or certify airports for their achievements. It also affirms the left-of-center principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion and seeks an “equitable” distribution of benefits to members of its federation. 2

    As of January 2024, ACI-World had 830 members that operated 2,181 airports in 170 countries. 5

    In 2024, the 34th ACI World Annual Assembly that took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia adopted a resolution adopted a resolution recommitting to producing net-zero carbon emissions “in full alignment with the Paris Agreement.” 6

    Partnerships

    Airports Council International has five regional hubs: Airports Council International North America (ACI-NA), based in Washington, D.C.; Airports Council International Latin America and Caribbean (ACI-LAC), based in Panama City, Panama; Airports Council International Europe (ACI-Europe), based in Brussels, Belgium; Airports Council International Africa (ACI-Africa), based in Casablanca, Morocco; and Airports Council International Asia-Pacific-Middle East (ACI-Asia-Pacific-Middle East), based in Hong Kong. Together, the five regional hubs and ACI-World make up the Airports Council International Federation (ACI Federation).  3  4

    ACI-World also partners with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations that facilitates international civilian air travel; the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade association for international airlines; 7 the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO), a trade association for air-traffic management; 8 the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Association (ICCAIA), a trade association for aviation-technology manufacturers; 9 and the World Economic Forum (WEF). 4

    ACI-World also has consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). 10

    Leadership

    The director general of Airports Council International is Justin Erbacci. Erbacci became the director general of ACI-World in September 2024 after working as the CEO of Airports at NEOM in Saudi Arabia and as the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief IT and commercial strategy officer, and chief IT and innovation officer at Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). Before working at LAWA, Erbacci was the vice president of customer experience and technology at the airline group Star Alliance Service GmbH, and he worked at Cambridge Management Consultants and Deloitte and Touche. 11

    Financials

    According to tax filings, Airport Council International’s North American division, the North American Region of the Airports Council International, reported $21,360,378 in expenses, $21,278,479 in revenues, and $26,370,691 in net assets in 2024. 12

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    References

    1. “Airports Council International.” Airports Council International. Accessed February 3, 2026. https://airportscouncil.org/.
    2. “Strategic Plan 2025-2030.” Airports Council International World. Accessed February 3, 2026. https://aci.aero/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ACI-STRATEGIC-PLAN-2025-2030-FINAL.pdf.
    3. “About Us.” Airports Council International Latin America Caribbean. Accessed February 3, 2026. https://aci-lac.aero/en/mission-and-objectives/.
    4. “About ACI World.” Airports Council International World. Accessed February 3, 2026. https://aci.aero/about-aci/.
    5. “Airports Council International World.” Airports Council International World. Accessed February 3, 2026. https://aci.aero/.
    6. “RESOLUTION #5.” ACI World General Assembly. Accessed February 3, 2026. https://aci.aero/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-WAGA-Resolution-5.pdf.
    7. IATA. Accessed February 16, 2026. https://www.iata.org/.
    8. “Home.” CANSO, January 19, 2026. https://canso.org/.
    9. “About Us.” ICCAIA, April 25, 2022. https://iccaia.org/about-us/.
    10. “ACI World.” Airports Council International World. Accessed February 3, 2026. https://aci-lac.aero/en/aci-world/.
    11. “Leadership and Staff.” Airports Council International World. Accessed February 3, 2026. https://aci.aero/aci-world-staff/justin-erbacci/.
    12. North American Region of the Airports Council International. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Form 990. 2024