The Airport Scorecard: What Airlines and Airports Must Get Right

The Decision Brief SKIFT AVIATION FORUM John Ackerman, CEO, Los Angeles World Airports Régis Lacôte, Executive Vice President of Groupe ADP, Head of Operations and Innovation, and Managing Director, Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport Moderated by Sarah Kopit, Editor-in-Chief, Skift THE TAKEAWAY Airports can use major-event deadlines to accelerate investment, but the lasting benefits depend on what changes after the crowds leave. Paris-Charles de Gaulle’s Régis Lacôte described permanent operational improvements from the Olympics, while Los Angeles World Airports’ John Ackerman said the success of LAX’s transformation will ultimately be judged over decades. PATHS FORWARD Use event deadlines to advance long-term priorities. Ackerman described LAX’s $30 billion capital program as a transformation extending well beyond 2028, while Lacôte said Paris used its Olympic preparations to improve processes and inform future investments. Invest in the people delivering the transformation. Ackerman reported a 32-point improvement in employee engagement after shifting resources toward staff, while Lacôte emphasized pairing workforce development with infrastructure investment. Balance airline input with airport-wide responsibilities. Both executives described airlines as essential partners, while acknowledging that their shorter-term commercial priorities do not always align with airports’ longer investment horizons. WHAT TO WATCH Whether Olympic investments deliver lasting operational improvements. Paris reports changes to accessibility and airport collaboration, while Los Angeles still faces the test of sustaining improvements beyond 2028. How airports measure success beyond event readiness. Differences between audience polling and executive opinions raise questions about which investments in capital efficiency, operating performance, or the passenger experience will ultimately be prioritized. Access all the Skift Takeaways from this event, as well as full session videos, presentation documents, and more editorial coverage at our Skift Aviation Forum attendees hub.