SALT LAKE CITY, UT— Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, announced today the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), William P. Hobby Airport, and Nieuport Aviation as the 2026 Inclusion Champion Award recipients.
“Creating a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable travel experience depends on collaboration across a diverse network of workers, businesses, and community partners,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “The honorees this year show how inclusive business practices, workforce development, and meaningful outreach can deliver lasting benefits for travelers, employees, and the broader airport community. ACI-NA congratulates them for advancing programs that strengthen our industry and expand opportunity.”
Large Hub Inclusion Champion: Chicago Department of Aviation
The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) has put business and workforce inclusion at the core of operations throughout both O’Hare and Midway airports. Through aggressive procurement practices, the CDA’s transformative ORDNext program has sorted more than $8 billion in work into $100,000 to $100+ million contracts, bringing 60+ new minority- and women-owned businesses to O’Hare since 2022. The CDA annually awards 29% of all contracts to diverse businesses, generating over $300 million in annual revenues through minority and women-owned concessionaires. On the workforce side, the CDA’s 2025 employment reflects meaningful diversity with 39% Black and 24% Hispanic staff, and female representation has grown from 20% to 29% since 2015. Outreach efforts, including the Aviation Career Pathways Program serving 200+ students and the “Papa Blu” flight simulator bus reaching every Chicago neighborhood, are creating direct pipelines into aviation careers.
“Chicago is home to one of the world’s most critical aviation systems, and the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) always aims to be at the forefront of innovation and best practices in the aviation industry,” said CDA Commissioner Michael McMurray. “It is important to show this industry — and the world — that the CDA is a welcoming place for those from historically-disadvantaged groups, where they can realize their professional and entrepreneurial dreams. It is an honor to be recognized by ACI-NA for our efforts to promote inclusion throughout the CDA, and I hope that we can be a model for other large hub airports and aviation systems to follow.”
Medium Hub Inclusion Champion: William P. Hobby Airport
Under the leadership of the City of Houston, William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) has positioned business and workforce inclusion at the heart of its strategic mission. Through proactive engagement at industry conferences, Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) outreach events, and community forums, HOU has significantly expanded the pool of businesses competing for concession opportunities. The airport’s standout achievement is the progression of LaTrelle’s Concessions from a sub-prime ACDBE partner to a prime concessionaire, a milestone that reflects HOU’s commitment to actively cultivating long-term success rather than merely meeting regulatory requirements. That commitment, combined with strong partnerships across TSA, local law enforcement and critical airport support teams, reflects the service culture that has helped HOU remain the only 5-star Skytrax-rated airport in North America for five consecutive years. Workforce development efforts include partnerships with Texas Southern University, which provides aviation operations internships, and engagement with local high schools through the HAS Aviation Club, bringing more young talent into aviation careers.
“William P. Hobby Airport is at its best when opportunity, service and community move together,” said Jim Szczesniak, Director of Aviation for Houston Airports. “This recognition affirms our belief that inclusion is not a program on the side of airport operations. It is part of how we build stronger businesses, support our workforce and deliver a better experience for every passenger. We are especially proud of partners like LaTrelle’s, whose growth reflects what is possible when airports intentionally open doors and help small local businesses succeed.”
World Business Partner/Associate Inclusion Champion: Nieuport Aviation
Nieuport Aviation, operating Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, has embedded diversity, equity, and inclusion into every dimension of its business model. Through an innovative partnership with the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA), Nieuport provides free rotating retail booths in the terminal atrium to small and minority-owned businesses from across the Greater Toronto Area. Over the past year, this initiative has supported dozens of entrepreneurs, including Afrobeats Snacks, Completely Handmade, Joyous Delights, and Pour Sport, small businesses that benefit from direct exposure to approximately 2 million annual passengers without the typical financial barriers to airport retail.
“At Nieuport, we believe that building a more inclusive aviation industry requires intentional action and strong partnerships,” said Jennifer Quinn, CEO of Nieuport Aviation. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our team and our partners to creating an environment where diverse voices are uplifted, and where our passengers feel welcomed and included.”
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