Candace McGraw Assumes ACI World Chair Role, Setting the Course for Global Airports

Candace McGraw, the accomplished CEO of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), has embarked on her new role as the Chair of Airports Council International (ACI) World. Starting her two-year term on January 11th, McGraw takes the helm of the ACI World Governing Board, succeeding Aimen bin Al Hosni, CEO of Oman Airports, who will continue to serve on the board in his capacity as immediate past chair. The board comprises 28 airport CEOs designated by ACI regional organizations.

McGraw brings valuable experience to her new role, having previously served as the vice chair of the board for the past two years. Jost Lammers, CEO of Munich Airport, assumes the position of ACI World vice chair for the next two years.

Since taking the reins as CEO of CVG in June 2011, McGraw has overseen the transformation of the airport into a significant player in the world of cargo transportation. CVG is notably home to Amazon Air’s primary hub and DHL Express’ U.S. hub. ACI World recognized CVG as the 17th busiest cargo airport globally in 2022, with cargo volumes surging by 16.8% to reach 1.8 million metric tons. Projections suggest that CVG will ascend to the 12th position among the world’s busiest cargo airports once the 2023 figures are unveiled later this year.

Furthermore, CVG has demonstrated remarkable growth in passenger and cargo traffic. In the first ten months of 2023, the airport welcomed 7.3 million passengers, marking a substantial 15.5% increase compared to the same period in 2022. In the realm of cargo, CVG handled 1.7 million metric tons during the same timeframe in 2023, reflecting a robust 7% rise from the previous year.

Luis Felipe de Oliveira, ACI World Director General, expressed confidence in McGraw’s leadership, stating, “Guided by [McGraw’s] vision, we are confident that our organization will chart a course toward a bright future and unlock new horizons in our mission to elevate the interests of airports worldwide. Our industry faces a crossroads, a balancing act between soaring demand for air travel and the urgent need for sustainable aviation.”

McGraw, a member of the ACI board since 2018, is deeply committed to the aviation industry’s future. She emphasized, “Nothing is more important to me than the future of this industry. Whether thinking about the long-term needs of ACI, how we can be a strong partner in the global aviation industry, or what we can do to accelerate the adoption of practices to ensure sustainable aviation, we are stronger as one.”

With Candace McGraw at the helm, ACI World looks forward to a future of innovation and collaboration, steering the global airport industry toward sustainable and prosperous horizons.