John Ackerman takes charge as CEO of Los Angeles World Airports

The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners has appointed John Ackerman as the next CEO of Los Angeles World Airports or LAWA. This move comes after the former head of LAWA, Justin Erbacci resigned to accept a similar position in Saudi Arabia. Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is an airport authority that owns and operates Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as well as Van Nuys Airport (VNY) for the city of Los Angeles, California. In a statement, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced the appointment of Ackerman as the next CEO of LAWA. According to reports, Ackerman will take charge as the new CEO of LAWA or Los Angeles World Airports in February 2024.

Who is Ackerman? A former officer in the U.S Marine Corps, Ackerman is currently serving as the Executive Vice President of Global Strategy and Development at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, which is the primary international airport serving the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the North Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. Ackerman has a decade of experience in the aviation industry. Before managing Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Ackerman was the Chief Commercial Officer at Denver International Airport (DEN). He has also worked with United Airlines as a Managing Director of Customer Experience. After being appointed as the CEO of LAWA, Ackerman thanked Mayor Karen, saying, “I look forward to using the skills and knowledge I developed during my career to lead an exceptional organisation and serve the city of Los Angeles.”

As the Executive Vice President of Global Strategy and Development at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport for over 9+ years, Ackerman has contributed to developing strategies and increasing the global presence of DFW. Ackerman has worked to improve the airport infrastructure of DFW and to increase the airport's cargo capacity. Under Ackerman, DFW launched the first online parking system with dynamic pricing at a U.S. airport. According to data published by ACI, DFW is the second busiest airport in the U.S after Atlanta in terms of passenger movement. Currently the airport is in expansion mode, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and American Airlines have announced a joint agreement to develop a sixth terminal. DFW will also invest up to $3.5 billion in terminal improvements, including the construction of Terminal F and Terminal C upgrades. DFW is also investing in new cargo facilities to address its capacity issue and target growth.

The airport is the largest hub for American Airlines. The airport is at the 10th spot in terms of cargo operations. Being located in the centre of the United States, it positions DFW as the nexus of Latin America – Asia transit freight and as an ideal hub for e-commerce. DFW's geographic advantage is bolstered by strong Asian freighter service and a large American Airlines Latin America network. However, in the first quarter of 2023, the total cargo throughput at DFW Airport experienced a decline compared to the same period in 2022, with the total cargo tonnage amounting to 199,480 tonnes, down from 227,757 tonnes in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

DFW Airport has actively redirected its attention from coastal regions. The airport has been actively promoting its close proximity to Mexico's thriving auto industry and establishing trade routes in India, demonstrating a proactive approach in seeking out new collaborations and business opportunities over the past few years. To make DFW more appealing as a cargo destination, the airport has opened a cutting-edge perishables facility in line with its strategy of attracting shippers of temperature and time-sensitive goods.