Latino Professionals in Aerospace today announced that 16 airlines and 65 exhibitors will participate in the LPA Aerospace Industry Expo 2026, presented by United Airlines, on Sept. 17-18 at the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. Thousands of aerospace professionals are expected to attend the two-day event, which has become one of the industry’s largest annual hiring and networking gatherings.
Recruiting teams from leading airlines and aerospace employers will conduct interviews, host career presentations and connect with candidates seeking opportunities across the industry. In addition to title sponsor United Airlines, a longtime supporter of the LPA Expo and one of the event’s major sponsors over the past three years, participating airline sponsors include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Atlas Air, CommuteAir, Delta Air Lines, Endeavor Air, Envoy Air, Flexjet, Frontier Airlines, GoJet Airlines, JSX, Piedmont Airlines, PSA Airlines, Republic Airways, Southwest Airlines and Sun Country Airlines. Additional exhibitors and sponsors continue to join the event, including aviation schools, aviation career services firms, aerospace manufacturers and others.
“Our partnership with Latino Professionals in Aerospace is about more than sponsoring an event – it’s about investing in people and the future of aviation,” said Anel Ruiz, Managing Director of People Impact at United Airlines. “By bringing together employers, students and professionals from across the industry, we’re helping create connections that can change careers and strengthen aerospace for years to come.”
Since launching in 2023, the expo has nearly doubled in attendance each year; it attracted more than 2,600 attendees in 2025. In response to growing demand from both employers and job seekers, LPA expanded the event to a two-day format in 2026, creating additional opportunities for candidate interviews, networking and professional development.
“We’re proud of how much this event has grown, but what inspires me most is seeing the lives it impacts,” said Claudia Zapata-Cardone, President of Latino Professionals in Aerospace. “RISE is more than this year’s theme. It’s what happens when someone sees a future they didn’t think was possible, makes a connection that changes the course of their career or receives a scholarship that helps turn a dream into reality.
“For too long, many talented people in our community simply didn’t see themselves represented in aerospace. That’s changing, and we’re proud to be part of that progress. We’re grateful to United Airlines and all of our airline, sponsor and exhibitor partners for standing with the LPA familia and helping create pathways for aerospace professionals to pursue their goals — at the expo and throughout the year.”
The expo’s continued growth also reflects LPA’s evolution as an organization. In 2025, the association expanded its mission beyond pilots and adopted the name Latino Professionals in Aerospace to better serve engineers, maintenance professionals, technicians, students and other professionals across the aerospace ecosystem.
This year’s theme, RISE, celebrates opportunity, professional growth and the power of bringing together the Latino aerospace community alongside industry partners to help shape the future workforce. The event welcomes participants from across the aerospace sector and around the world to connect, learn and advance in their careers.
“I’m especially thankful for the LPA leadership team and volunteers who dedicate countless hours throughout the year to make this event possible,” added Zapata-Cardone. “Their passion and commitment are the heart of LPA. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to Orlando this September for what will be our biggest expo yet and to celebrate the talent, ambition and future of our community together.”
In addition to taking part in the expo, attendees can choose to participate in the LPA Member Town Hall and LPA Welcome Reception on Sept. 17, and the LPA Aerospace Gala on Sept. 18. The gala will recognize LPA scholarship recipients and celebrate outstanding achievements across the aerospace industry. Individual event tickets and bundled registration packages that include access to the expo and all events are available.
Registration and event information are available at https://bit.ly/LPAExpo2026.
About Latino Professionals in Aerospace
Latino Professionals in Aerospace is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring, developing and supporting Latinos across aviation and aerospace. Through scholarships, mentorship, professional development and industry partnerships, LPA helps create pathways to opportunity and advance aerospace careers. For more information, visit www.lpa-aero.org. Follow LPA on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
About United
At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol “UAL”.
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