American Association of Airport Executives

What American Association of Airport Executives does

The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), founded in 1928 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is the largest professional membership organization for airport employees in the United States, representing 12,057 members across 949 airports that cover 97% of domestic airports. Its core platform combines a cloud-based Interactive Employee Training (IET) Learning Suite delivering 1.5 million training sessions annually to aviation workers across North America with the Transportation Security Clearinghouse, the only Designated Aviation Channeler providing airport security vetting services. AAAE also operates the ABT Clearinghouse for transportation network company compliance, GBAC STAR facility accreditation, and ANTN Digicast for on-demand content delivery.

AAAE's business model spans four revenue streams: recurring membership dues from individual professionals, airports, and corporate partners; subscription and usage-based training revenue from the IET platform with multi-year contracts and annual service plans; professional services revenue from 50+ annual events and conferences drawing 7,500+ attendees; and subscription-based publications including Airport Magazine and Aviation News Today. Core products are layered with add-on modules such as ACE and A.A.E. certification programs (the A.A.E. credential held by 539 individuals), the Higher Logic-powered online community "The Hub," the Airport Consortium on Transformation (ACT) innovation program, and the AAAE Foundation scholarship endowment. The organization is governed as a Virginia-incorporated nonprofit with subsidiaries including the International Association of Airport Executives (IAAE), Daon Trusted Identity Services, and the U.S. Contract Tower Association (USCTA), and serves as the industry advocacy body before Congress and federal agencies including the FAA, TSA, DHS, EPA, and DOT.

Name

American Association of Airport Executives

Legal name

American Association of Airport Executives

Website

https://aaae.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

AAAE is a 1928-founded nonprofit professional association representing 12,057 members across 949 U.S. airports, providing compliance training, security vetting, certification, advocacy, and an online member community to airport executives and aviation professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Industry Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Regulatory, Compliance & Type Training (FAA/EASA/ICAO, Part 147/145) (EDAOAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Product, Safety & Quality Compliance (incl. Regulatory Affairs) (BPAHAFAM)

Keywords

• Airport management training
• Aviation professional certification
• Airport security vetting
• Aviation industry advocacy
• Airport executive membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for airport professionals, airport executives, and corporate partners. The organization reports 12,057 members, 9,321 airport members, and 949 airports.
2. Training Programs: Interactive Employee Training (IET) courses for airports meeting Part 139 and Part 1542 regulations. Pricing based on course length, customization level, and interactivity required. Software and hardware costs based on airport infrastructure requirements. Service plans available for ongoing support.
3. Events and Conferences: More than 50 meetings annually with over 7,500 attendees. Includes Annual Conference, certification courses, workshops, and training events across the United States.
4. Publications: Airport Magazine and Aviation News Today publications, with advertising and sponsorship opportunities for corporate partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AAAE is the largest professional membership association for airport executives and professionals in the United States, providing training, certification (ACE and A.A.E. credentials), federal advocacy, industry publications, networking events, and operational solutions (clearinghouses, security vetting) to airports and aviation industry stakeholders. Membership dues, training subscriptions, events, certifications, and security/transportation network company compliance services form the core offerings.

Product overview

AAAE offers a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on professional development, training, and certification for airport executives. The core offerings include Interactive Employee Training (IET), a web-based training platform, and the Transportation Security Clearinghouse for vetting services. Additional modules include the ABT Clearinghouse for TNC compliance, GBAC STAR accreditation, OnSite Training, the Airport Consortium on Transformation (ACT) for innovation, and ANTN Digicast for on-demand content. AAAE also provides certification programs (ACE and A.A.E. credentials), member publications (Airport Magazine, Aviation News Today), the Hub online community, and scholarship support through the AAAE Foundation. These products serve airports across the full operational lifecycle from training and compliance to professional networking and career advancement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Interactive Employee Training (IET): Web-based learning suite providing engaging, high-quality training content to airports and aviation firms for Part 139 and 1542 regulations compliance.
• Airport Consortium on Transformation (ACT)
• Transportation Security Clearinghouse
• ABT Clearinghouse
• GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation
• ANTN Digicast
• Airport Magazine
• Aviation News Today

Products and services

• Interactive Employee Training (IET) A flexible, scalable web-based training and testing platform providing engaging high-quality training content to airports and aviation firms, with a secure reporting suite for tracking and auditing results. Used by 125+ airports to meet Part 139 and Part 1542 regulations.
• Transportation Security Clearinghouse (TSC) The only Designated Aviation Channeler (DAC) with more than a decade of airport experience, providing security vetting services to airports as a unified compliance solution alongside training.
• ABT Clearinghouse A comprehensive solution providing airports with real-time access to Transportation Network Company (TNC) activity on airport property, facilitating curbside compliance, data analytics, and accounting reconciliation.
• OnSite Training Consistent, cost-effective and customizable training for airport employees conducted at individual facilities by expert trainers. Includes classroom-based, distance learning, and interactive computer-based training delivery.
• ACE Certification Program Airport Certified Employee (ACE) certification programs providing industry-recognized credentials across various airport management domains including operations, finance, communications, lighting, security, and Safety Management Systems (SMS).
• Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) The prestigious A.A.E. certification program - the most respected credential in the airport industry, demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of airport management. Earned by 539 Accredited Airport Executives.
• ANTN Digicast On-demand training and informative, thought-provoking exclusive online video content for airport professionals and aviation industry stakeholders.
• GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation An outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation program for facilities, building customer confidence through recognized cleaning industry standards.
• The Hub (Online Member Community) An online member community platform serving as a living library where airport professionals can ask questions, share resources, tap into collective expertise, and expand professional networks.
• Airport Consortium on Transformation (ACT) A program coordinating efforts of leading airports, thought leaders and solution providers to share and deploy innovative technology solutions across the US commercial aviation system.
• AAAE Professional Membership Annual membership program for airport professionals, airport executives, and corporate partners, providing access to publications, training, events, advocacy, and The Hub online community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.5 million training sessions delivered annually to aviation workers across North America
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• HudsonminorOthersPrime partner of AAAE, appearing in thank you section of website with logo display.
• JacobsminorOthersPrime partner of AAAE, appearing in thank you section of website with logo display.
• McFarland JohnsonminorOthersPrime partner of AAAE, appearing in thank you section of website with logo display.
• Mead & HuntminorOthersPrime partner of AAAE, appearing in thank you section of website with logo display.
• RS&HminorOthersPrime partner of AAAE, appearing in thank you section of website with logo display.
• Burns McDonnellminorOthersPrime partner displayed in member portal with logo, providing engineering and architecture solutions.
• BYDminorOthersPrime partner displayed in member portal with logo, electric vehicle manufacturer.
• CarlyleminorOthersPrime partner displayed in member portal with logo, investment firm.
• Hudson GroupminorOthersPrime partner displayed in member portal with logo, retail and convenience operator.
• MJ (McCormick Jalonick)minorOthersPrime partner displayed in member portal with logo, engineering firm.
• Signature Flight SupportminorOthersPrime partner displayed in member portal with logo, FBO network.
• Higher LogiccoreTechnology or IntegrationPowers AAAE's member community platform 'The Hub' - an online community space for members to ask questions, share resources, and tap into collective expertise. The Hub is one of the most tangible benefits of AAAE membership.
• Transportation Security Administration (TSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAAE works with TSA on airport security policy, training, and certification programs. AAAE serves on government advisory organizations including the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) and is the only Designated Aviation Channeler (DAC) providing vetting services.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA): Largest general-aviation membership association in the U.S.; competes for aviation professional mindshare and operates parallel advocacy, training, and member-service functions even though its primary focus is pilots rather than airports.
• National Air Transportation Association (NATA): Trade association representing general aviation businesses including FBOs, charter operators, and flight schools—shares the same regulatory-advocacy and training-certification model targeting aviation decision-makers.
• National Business Aviation Association (NBAA): Major business-aviation association with overlapping convention/training business and a similar member-services/advocacy model, although focused on business aviation operators rather than airport executives.

Others

• Higher Logic: AAAE's technology partner that powers The Hub online member community and provides the underlying association-management platform—a key ecosystem vendor rather than direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Flight Safety Foundation: Independent aviation-safety organization offering training, research, and advocacy that overlaps with AAAE's safety-policy and SMS-related training content for airports.
• Regional Airline Association (RAA): Trade association for regional airlines with parallel advocacy, training, and conference operations targeting aviation-industry professionals, although focused on carriers rather than airports.
• American Association of Airport Executives (international sister orgs): AAAE itself owns the International Association of Airport Executives (IAAE), a comparable international airport-professional body that operates in adjacent geographies.
• Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA): Membership association for air traffic control professionals that intersects with AAAE's US Contract Tower Association (USCTA) subsidiary work and shares the Washington-based aviation-advocacy model.

Direct peers

• Airports Council International – North America: ACI-NA is the primary U.S./North American trade association for airport operators, directly competing with AAAE for airport-executive mindshare, advocacy influence in Washington, and event/training revenue from the same 949-airport base.
• Airports Council International (World): The global parent of ACI-NA, providing international airport-operator advocacy, training, and accreditation that overlap with AAAE's IAAE subsidiary and global-operations business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AAAEDelivers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AAAEDelivers
• Facebookfacebook.com/AAAEDelivers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aaae
• Instagraminstagram.com/aaaedelivers

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Association of Airport Executives