Mr. Justin Erbacci serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). He has been with LAWA since October 2016, and was appointed as CEO by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti in June 2020.
As CEO, Mr. Erbacci has oversight of Los Angeles International (LAX) and Van Nuys (VNY) general aviation airports. He leads the team responsible for transforming LAX into a world-class airport for the modern traveler and thus returning LAX to its iconic status. His responsibilities involve managing more than $14 billion in programs to revolutionize how guests access the airport, to modernize all of LAX’s terminals and to significantly improve operations, retail, food and beverage and the overall guest experience. He also oversees programs to bring innovation and sustainability to VNY, one of the nation’s busiest general aviation airports. Mr. Erbacci oversees the largest airport police force in the United States, and works with his public safety team and outside government stakeholders to ensure the protection of the public and property. He and his team work closely with the community and airport stakeholders to fulfill LAWA’s vision of Gold Standard Airports … Delivered.
Prior to his full-time appointment, Mr. Erbacci served as Interim CEO for the first six months of 2020, where he guided LAWA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the establishment of innovative safety protocols and new technologies to help keep LAWA’s airports clean and safe and its airport guests and employees healthy and secure. Mr. Erbacci also led the formulation of creative solutions to the significant fiscal pressures imposed on LAWA and its partners due to the sudden and dramatic downturn in travel.
Mr. Erbacci previously served as LAWA’s Chief Operating Officer, and was responsible for overseeing a realigned executive organization focused on implementation and delivery of LAWA’s multibillion-dollar modernization program. As COO he led the integration of the capital development, guest experience, innovation, commercial strategy, information technology, environment and sustainability and operations and facilities management functions. Mr. Erbacci first joined LAWA in October 2016 as Chief Innovation and Technology Officer (CITO) and Deputy Executive Director. In this role he was responsible for implementing LAWA’s overall technology vision and strategy, in addition to leveraging innovative technologies and processes to enhance operations at LAX and VNY. In January 2018, Mr. Erbacci’s role was expanded to Chief Innovation and Commercial Strategy Officer (CICSO) where, in addition to his previous role, he also sponsored and led the Terminal Development and Improvement Program and shaped commercial and business strategies.
Mr. Erbacci brings more than 20 years of experience in global executive leadership from inside and outside of the aviation industry. Prior to his appointment with LAWA, he served as Vice President of Customer Experience & Technology for Star Alliance, a global airline network comprised of 28 airlines serving 640 million passengers annually. In this role, he was responsible for the development, implementation, operations, and maintenance of all global IT applications and infrastructure components, and led all Star Alliance product and service activities at the over 1,300 airports where its airlines operated. Additionally, Mr. Erbacci has served as the Director of Global Product Management for Credit Suisse, as a Manager of Business Planning and Technology at United Airlines, and as a senior consultant for firms including Reese McMahon LLC, Cambridge Management Consultants, and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Prior to consulting, he practiced law as a civil rights defense litigator.
Justin earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the Vienna School of Economics/Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, and a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University of Chicago’s School of Law. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Loyola University of Chicago.
