ACI-NA’s JumpStart® Air Service Development Conference is North America’s premier air service development conference. The 2026 JumpStart® Conference will take place in Chicago, IL from June 8 – 10. The event will begin with a full day of educational sessions, followed by two days of airport-airline meetings.
Please contact jumpstart@airportscouncil.org for more information.
STEP 1
Meet&Match Registration
Meet&Match is the dedicated online website for airports to request airline meetings by creating a profile and submitting an airline wish list. Only one Meet&Match registration per airport is permitted – Meet&Match primary contact. The Meet&Match registration deadline is March 27, 2026.
You can submit your airline wish list now and pay later.
STEP 2
Conference Registration
Register for the conference and proceed with payment. Don’t forget to book your hotel room at the Marriott Marquis Chicago.
All airports are required to compete Step 1 – Meet&Match Registration. After completing Step 1, please use the link below to update your wishlist and view your JumpStart® meeting schedule in Meet&Match.
Important JumpStart® Dates
- March 27, 2026 – JumpStart® Meet&Match registration and wish list deadline. If we do not receive your wish list by March 27, 2026, we cannot guarantee any meetings at 2026 JumpStart®.
- April 24, 2026 – JumpStart® e-mails preliminary meeting schedule to airports. It is advised that you should not book your flights until you have seen your preliminary meeting schedule.
- May 1, 2026– Early-Bird conference registration rate deadline
- May 1, 2026 – ACI-NA hotel discount rate deadline
- May 26, 2026 – JumpStart® e-mails final meeting schedule to airports
- June 8-10, 2026 – JumpStart® Conference
Who Should Attend
Any professional interested in learning about aviation trends or meeting industry leaders, including:
Airports looking to add new airlines and routes to their facilities
Airlines looking to add new service routes to their portfolio
Educational Content
There will be a dedicated day of educational sessions, tailored for air service development attendees. These sessions will provide in-depth knowledge on industry trends and air service, allowing you to expand your expertise when meeting with airlines.
Increased Networking Opportunities
These social events will be invaluable as they allow you to have greater exposure to airlines and further expand your industry contacts. You will have greater opportunity of networking under less formal conditions than your JumpStart meetings.
Personalized Schedules
Your JumpStart schedule will be made to suit your preferences and time constraints as best as possible. We will work with your consultants directly to ensure they don’t have any meeting conflicts, ensuring you have a seamless JumpStart experience.
Registration Information
Online registration is now open. Please click the link above to register.
ACI-NA Member Rate:
Early Bird Registration
(Until May 1)
$1,365
Regular Registration
(After May 1)
$1,815
Consultant Member Rate:
Early Bird Registration
(Until May 1)
$1,765
Regular Registration
(After May 1)
$2,215
Non-Member Rate:
Early Bird Registration
(Until May 1)
$1,965
Regular Registration
(After May 1)
$2,415
*Consultants are charged a premium registration fee when representing airport clients. ACI-NA staff work with consultants to ensure that meeting schedules are maintained, updated and that they avoid airport-airline meeting scheduling conflicts.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be sent to meetings@airportscouncil.org no later than May 1, 2026. Registration fees are refundable but subject to a $100 administrative fee. Refunds will be credited back to the original payment method within 14 business days. No refunds or credits will be given for cancellations received after May 1, 2026.
Hotel Information
Marriott Marquis Chicago
2121 S Prairie Ave
Chicago, IL 60616
ACI-NA has reserved rooms at the Marriott Marquis Chicago. The discounted hotel rate for the traditional room type is $319 USD for single/double occupancy per night plus applicable taxes. Other category/view room types are available at a higher rate.
The last day to reserve your room at the discounted rate is Friday, May 1, 2026. Rooms may sell out at the discounted rate before the booking deadline. We encourage you to reserve your room early.
Guarantee & Cancellation Policy: All reservations will be guaranteed for the first night’s room and tax. Cancellations made prior to 72 hours of arrival will not be charged.
ACI-NA does not work with third parties that would contact attendees about hotel accommodations for the conference. Please report any unauthorized solicitations to meetings@airportscouncil.org.
Can I submit my airline wish list now and pay later?
Yes, you can submit your airline wish list now and pay later. It is encouraged for you to pay before the May 26 final schedule release to guarantee your meetings with airlines.
What is Step 1 – Meet&Match Registration?
Meet&Match is the dedicated online website for you to request airline meetings. Meet&Match allows you to create your profile, submit additional attendees from your airport, and submit your airline wish list. The Meet&Match registration deadline is March 27, 2026.
What is Step 2 – Conference Registration?
Conference registration (payment) is required for all attendees, even if you have multiple representatives from your airport/organization.
What does JumpStart Meet&Match registration and wish list deadline mean?
You must submit your airline wish list by March 27, 2026, using the Meet&Match website.
What if I register after March 27, 2026?
If you register using the Meet&Match website after March 27, 2026, we cannot guarantee that you will secure meetings with your preferred airlines.
What is Meet&Match’s Primary Contact?
Meet&Match’s Primary Contact is the single designated person from an airport to receive emails from the JumpStart and Meet&Match website. If you are no longer the primary contact for your airport, please contact jumpstart@airportscouncil.org and we will set up a new profile for a colleague.
How does the Meet&Match scheduling work?
Once airlines and airports have submitted their wish lists, ACI-NA will use specialized software which will automatically confirm and schedule meetings. Please click here to view additional information on scheduling.
How do I request meetings?
The online Meet&Match website allows you to request meetings by creating a wish list of airlines you would like to meet with. The higher up an airline is on your wish list increases the probability of securing a meeting with that airline.
How will I be notified when new airlines register?
You will be notified by regular email updates when new airlines confirm to attend JumpStart.
Can my consultant register for Meet&Match (Step 1) and submit the airline wish list on behalf of my airport?
Yes, your consultant can register on behalf of your airport, but ACI-NA will only send email notifications to the primary contact registered in Meet&Match. This means the airport will not receive updates regarding their airline meeting schedule.
How many meetings do I get?
ACI-NA does not guarantee a minimum number of meetings.
When do I obtain my final meeting schedule?
You will receive your final meeting schedule via email on May 26, 2026.
Will you work with my consultant to avoid meeting conflicts?
Yes, we will work directly with your consultant to avoid conflicts with meetings. If there is a meeting conflict, please let your consultant contact us.
Can I make changes to my schedule after receiving the preliminary schedule?
Yes, changes can be made to your schedule after receiving the preliminary schedule. Please notify us as soon as possible if you would like to request a change.
Can I cancel my meeting with a specific airline?
Yes, you can cancel specific airline meetings when you receive your preliminary schedule if you feel that your meeting may not be valuable. However, you must notify us immediately.
What if I am unhappy with the number of meetings I receive?
ACI-NA will work directly with you to maximize your JumpStart experience. Please notify us immediately if you are unhappy with the number of meetings you receive.
Why is there a Consultant Member registration fee?
Consultants are charged a premium registration fee when representing airport clients. ACI-NA staff work with consultants to ensure that schedules are maintained, updated and that they avoid airport-airline meeting scheduling conflicts.
What if my airport is interested in hosting JumpStart in the future?
Please contact jumpstart@airportscouncil.org to express your interest. You can view the JumpStart host airport requirements here.
Become a Sponsor
Please contact Karynna Baresel at sponsorship@airportscouncil.org for additional details.