Introduction

Many systems in the United States, particularly transportation, operate within a framework that encompasses a broad and persisting set of racial stereotypes, prejudices, ideologies, images, interpretations and narratives, emotions, and reactions to linguistic accents. For many years, transportation institutions have continued to operate within this framework, which has resulted in systemic inequality and even overt racism. Establishing a shared understanding of systemic inequality and exploring the economic, social, moral, and risk impacts of racism are examples of reflexive practice that may lead to improved equity outcomes in the airport industry.

The Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Insight Event “Systemic Inequality in the Airport Industry: Exploring the Racial Divide” was an in-depth, face-to-face gathering designed to promote communication and collaboration, foster progress, and help identify areas of future interest and research. This event brought together experts from across the industry for 2 days of thought-provoking dialogue to consider this important challenge and how the industry can collectively transform to become more equal and inclusive. The objective of the Insight Event was to provide a safe and positive environment to allow candid and guided conversations on the topic. The agenda incorporated both panel discussions and audience breakout sessions to accomplish this objective and maximize engagement.

Preparation for this Insight Event, which spanned multiple tasks and multiple months, was led by Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc. (HMMH) and the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC). The first task completed was a thorough literature review, which served to define the state of the practice and identify notable thought leaders and practitioners in the industry. Several of these thought leaders and practitioners were then selected to serve on the project panel for the Insight Event. The panel chair and project panel members were selected and invited to participate in the Insight Event and held an initial planning meeting. They worked with ACRP staff and the research team to choose a rapporteur, facilitate event planning, and identify potential themes, topics, and formats for the Insight Event. Moderators, subject matter experts, and speakers were then identified and invited to serve on panels.

The Insight Event took place April 12–13, 2022, at the Keck Center of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies) in Washington, DC. Nearly 130 people registered for the Insight Event, and approximately 80 people attended. Registrants’ professional affiliations included airports, airlines, academic institutions, local and regional government, consulting, and more. The full list of attendees is provided in Appendix A.

The Insight Event was organized around three core questions—Why are we all here? Why should we care? and What are we going to do about it?—each the subject of two or three panel sessions. The remainder of the Insight Event included one keynote speaker and two breakout discussion sessions in which participants shared their own perspectives. The program agenda is provided in Appendix B, and the instructions for the breakout sessions are provided in Appendix C.

The Insight Event focused on in-person dialogue and interaction between the panelists and moderators and between the panels and the audience members. There were no formal presentations, other than the slide deck that was used to introduce the Insight Event and shown on the screen during the sessions to share the panel title and the names of the moderator and panel speakers and their respective affiliations. Readers who are interested in more information can email the ACRP senior program officer for the Insight Event, Joe Navarrete, at jnavarrete@nas.edu.

ACRP is an industry-driven, applied research program that develops near-term, practical solutions to problems faced by airport operators. ACRP is managed by TRB, a division within the National Academies, and is sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).