Draft Program & Agenda
Operational Readiness, Activation & Transition — October 13–15, 2026, Atlanta, GA (near Hartsfield-Jackson).
In partnership with ACI–North America, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and Citiri, organised by Altitudes.
Draft — subject to changeSetting the Stage
Opening Ceremony & Welcome
Co-hosts welcome the field, followed by an interactive ice-breaker on the biggest ORAT challenge you have faced.
The Owner’s Imperative — Why So Many of the World’s Most Important Projects Still Fail
Why most major infrastructure projects miss executives’ economic and operational goals — and what the world’s most successful owners do differently.
The Airline Perspective: Strategic Decision-Making on Major Airport Capital Programs
How a major airline approaches investment and strategy on airport capital programs.
Academic & Theory vs. Practice in ORAT
The gap between ORAT frameworks and real-world execution, drawn from Munich Airport International’s multi-continent experience.
Lessons from the World’s Busiest Airport — ATL’s Journey
Running one of U.S. aviation’s largest capital programs while operating the world’s busiest airport: governance, airline engagement, and phased activation.
Governance Challenges in ORAT: A Case Study from LAX
Decision authority, stakeholder alignment, and construction-to-operations integration across major LAX capital programs.
Delivering Airline Moves in a Live Airport
Complex terminal relocations delivered as governed operational transitions — readiness, trials, and stabilization at scale.
The Financial Perspective: Quantifying the ROI of ORAT
The business case for ORAT — cost of delay, claims and reputational risk, and making ORAT a line item, not an afterthought.
From Construction to Activation
Coordinating construction impacts and the transition to operations, using Seattle’s construction and operational-readiness plans.
Day 1 Wrap-Up & Preview of Day 2
Moderator-led synthesis of the day’s takeaways.
Going Deep
Keynote (to be announced)
A headline conversation on the future of the owner’s readiness discipline.
DWC Phase II: Building Operational Readiness from Concept of Operations Upward
Embedding readiness from the earliest planning of one of the world’s most ambitious greenfield programs.
Navigating Recovery & Readiness: ORAT in a Post-Disaster, Donor-Influenced Environment
Rebuilding and reactivating an international hub after Hurricane Irma, under international funding frameworks.
Modernizing ORAT: The Increasing Dominance of IT
How IT moved from supporting function to dominant ORAT workstream — integrated platforms, BIM-to-operations handover, and late-IT risk.
Designing & Executing Operational Trials
The “final exam” before opening: trial philosophy, script development, execution logistics, and go/no-go reporting. Hands-on.
ACI-NA Executive Roundtable: Toward Common Standards for ORAT
Advancing industry standards — benchmarks, shared learning, and ACI-NA’s role in codifying best practice.
Operational Readiness Risk & Contingency Planning in Live-Airport Environments
A scenario-based workshop identifying failure points and building contingency strategies for activation.
Case Study Deep Dive: Success Stories & Hard Lessons
Hamad International’s ORAT response to the FIFA World Cup — passenger surges, accelerated activations, and multi-stakeholder coordination.
Delivering Delta’s LAX Redevelopment: Lessons from the Field
A practitioner view of a major airline-led redevelopment.
The Debate: Where Should ORAT Report?
CEO, COO, CDO — or under the PM/contractor? A candid look at reporting structures and the conflicts they create.
Interactive Workshop: Assessing Your Airport’s Operational Readiness Maturity
Both tracks reconvene. Cross-functional groups assess readiness maturity across governance, stakeholders, training, trials, technology, and post-opening support.
Day 2 Wrap-Up
Moderator-led synthesis and preview of the Day 3 half-day.
Looking Forward · Half Day
Technology, Data & the Future of Operational Readiness
From spreadsheets to integrated platforms, real-time analytics, digital twins, and AI — and how airports should prepare now.
The Future of ORAT — What Do We Need as an Industry?
An off-the-record roundtable on the biggest gaps in collective capability and how to build a sustainable community of practice.
Practitioner Workshop: Building Your ORAT Implementation Plan
Small groups draft a high-level ORAT plan for their own program — team, reporting, stakeholders, milestones, and risks.
Rising Voices in ORAT — The Next Generation of Readiness Leaders
Emerging professionals on how they entered the field, what excites and frustrates them, and how to attract and develop talent.
Closing Ceremony: Commitments, Community & What’s Next
Themes and insights, the ORAT Community of Practice, each attendee’s one commitment, and a teaser for the 2nd US ORAT Conference.
ATL Capital Program Site Tour
Guided tour of ORAT project areas at ATL. Limited capacity · pre-registration required · security clearance needed.
Reserve your place.
Registration, the $1,500 delegate rate, and logistics are handled by Altitudes.
Register on AltitudesThis is a draft program. Sessions, speakers, and timings are subject to change per speaker availability and organizer adjustments. Presented by Altitudes in partnership with ACI–North America, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and Citiri (lead sponsor).