On November 3, 2025, AMAC submitted comments on the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise in Airport Concessions Program Implementation Modifications — DOT–OST–2025–0897.
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
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
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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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.
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
On September 10, 2025, the House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure held the hearing titled “Leveling the Playing Field: Fostering Opportunities for Small Business Contractors.” On September 11, 2025, AMAC sent a letter to the committee, highlighting the importance of preserving the DBE program and its role in advancing three vital national interests: economic growth, equity and fairness, and innovation and resilience. The letter also expressed concern about recent policies that have created significant barriers, threatening the survival … Read More
On July 21, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Office of the Secretary published a Request for Information (RFI): Advancing a Surface Transportation Proposal That Focuses on America’s Most Fundamental Infrastructure Needs to the Federal Register in preparation for the next surface transportation reauthorization bill. DOT invited public input on the next surface transportation authorizing legislation, with comments accepted through the RFI that closed September 8, 2025 (extended from August 20). On September 8, 2025, AMAC submitted comments urging … Read More
The 40th Annual AMAC Airport Business Conference took off in New Orleans with energy and purpose, celebrating 40 years of promoting equity in the aviation industry. Hosted by the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, the conference combined history, innovation and lively cultural energy into an engaging, multi-day event. Themed “Honoring Our Past, Forging Our Future,” this milestone gathering brought together over 1,500 aviation professionals, businesses, policymakers and emerging leaders to celebrate achievements and plan a bold future. The … Read More