Soaring Success: How to Do Business at the Airport Without Owning a Store 

On Friday, December 5, 2025, the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago and the AMAC Chicago Chapter hosted an insightful Mix & Mingle event focused on a compelling question for small businesses: How can you do business at the airport without owning a traditional store? This dynamic discussion offered actionable strategies for entrepreneurs looking to tap into the high-traffic, customer base of airport retail. Key Takeaways from the Experts The event featured a fantastic lineup … Read More

URW Airports is Now ASUR Airports!

From ASUR Airports: We’re excited to announce that the sale of URW Airports is now complete. Our team remains the same, and we are officially ASUR Airports. We will continue to leverage our experienced local leadership to deliver exceptional projects. ASUR is a leading international airport operator with a portfolio of concessions to operate, maintain, and develop 16 airports in the Americas, including Cancún International Airport. Founded in 1998, ASUR is listed on both the Mexican Bolsa (ASUR) and the … Read More

AMAC FAQs (Round 3) — USDOT DBE & ACDBE Program Interim Final Rule

We published additional questions and answers (Round 3 FAQs) for the USDOT DBE/ACDBE Program IFR, based on submissions received from Airport Representatives and DBE/ACDBE Certifying Bodies during the AMAC Webinar, “Reviewing Personal Narratives for DBE/ACDBE Certifications,” held on October 30, 2025. These resources are available in the AMAC Member Resource Library. To access the AMAC Member Resource Library, log in to your AMAC Member Profile. If you need assistance logging in, please contact us at info@amac-org.com.   AMAC FAQs Question … Read More

AMAC FAQs (Round 2) — USDOT DBE & ACDBE Program Interim Final Rule

We published additional questions and answers (Round 2 FAQs) for the USDOT DBE/ACDBE Program IFR, based on submissions received from members during the AMAC Members-Only Webinar, “Maintaining and Expanding DBE/ACDBE Certifications,” held on October 7, 2025. These resources are available in the AMAC Member Resource Library. To access the AMAC Member Resource Library, log in to your AMAC Member Profile. If you need assistance logging in, please contact us at info@amac-org.com.   AMAC FAQs Question Submission: USDOT DBE & ACDBE … Read More

AMAC Statement on the USDOT DBE & ACDBE Program Interim Final Rule

Statement   “The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Interim Final Rule (IFR) marks the most significant change to the DBE and ACDBE programs in more than four decades. These programs have long served as a gateway for minority- and women-owned businesses to access airport opportunities. The removal of the rebuttable presumption of social disadvantage based on race and gender fundamentally alters how certification is determined. This is a pivotal moment. Despite the challenges embedded in the IFR, the DBE and ACDBE … Read More

AMAC FAQs — USDOT DBE & ACDBE Program Interim Final Rule

On September 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) that fundamentally changes the operation of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) programs. This IFR was published in the Federal Register and became effective October 3, 2025. For more than four decades, the DBE and subsequently, the ACDBE programs have been a gateway for minority- and women-owned firms to access airport opportunities. The programs include a rebuttable presumption … Read More

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Meet The Man Who Leads The World’s Busiest Airport: Ricky Smith (AMAC Board Chair & ATL Airport GM)

Ricky Smith, Chair of the AMAC Board of Directors and General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, joins ForbesBLK Senior Writer Jabari Young on The Enterprise Zone at the Nasdaq MarketSite. During the discussion, Smith outlines the business behind the airport; its $66.7 billion economic impact, growing up in Baltimore before rising to CEO and future careers in aviation.    

Recap: 2nd Annual AMAC She SOARS — Women in Aviation Summit

The 2nd Annual She SOARS — Women in Aviation Summit, held September 18–19, 2025, at the Atlanta Marriott Airport Gateway, offered a richly layered program designed to empower women across the aviation sector. Over the course of two dynamic days, nearly 400 participants immersed themselves in energizing breakfasts, a compelling keynote address focused on choosing self-confidence & finding your superpower, and hands-on sessions such as She Sets the Agenda, Designing Your Career Journey with Purpose and You’ve Got the Mic! Real Talk with Aviation Executives. Movement … Read More

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