Advanced air mobility (AAM) is moving from vision to implementation, raising fundamental questions for airports, regions and transportation authorities about infrastructure, airspace, electrification and multimodal integration. This panel brings together operational, research and planning perspectives to examine how vertiports and AAM services can be embedded into existing airport ecosystems and regional transportation networks. Drawing on real-world initiatives, experimental infrastructure and structured roadmapping approaches, the discussion will explore how passenger-focused AAM can scale safely, sustainably and economically, while navigating dense airspace, regulatory complexity and infrastructure constraints. The panel will move beyond concepts to address what airports, regions and industry actors must do now to prepare for integration with ground mobility systems and passenger-ready AAM systems.

• Advanced air mobility will only scale for passengers if it is fully integrated into existing airport operations, surface transportation networks and regional mobility systems
• Vertiports are not experimental add-ons but core transportation infrastructure that must be designed, tested and operated to aviation-grade standards from day one
• The transition from pilots to passenger-ready AAM depends on real-world testing, validated data and permanent test environments that reduce uncertainty for regulators and investors
• Successful AAM deployment requires structured, phased roadmaps that align infrastructure, regulation, airspace design, economics and stakeholder responsibilities
• Airports and regions can accelerate AAM readiness today through electrification planning, multimodal integration, OEM collaboration and early policy alignment without waiting for full market maturity