Airports in world cities play a unique role at the top of our global aviation infrastructure. In cities with large metropolitan areas, such as London and Los Angeles, we will explore levels of growth that have resulted in a network of five commercial airports. What is it like to be an independently operated airport within a sprawling metropolitan area of nearly 20 million people? How do you stand out in this environment as the airport of choice? We’ll explore these questions and others with Stansted and Ontario (California) and compare their positions and strategies in each of their respective ecosystems.

• Differentiating by experience/innovation – how ONT and STN compete in the world’s busiest air travel markets
• Continuing to grow while maintaining identity – the nuances of airport development within a multi-airport ecosystem
• Commonality in mission – how independence and innovation shape airport identity in large metropolitan networks
• Maintaining your edge – how an airport can find a niche by identifying underserved demand in sprawling metro areas
• Competition drives innovation – how competition within and between large markets moves the industry forward