Airport Business - 37

UNDER

JULIANA PEÑA

Manager, Air Service & Business Development, Orlando International Airport

hen Juliana Peña was growing up, she had
a collection of books showcasing how
different things worked. Her favorite book was
always the one with the airplanes.
"Since I was little, I was fascinated by the
fact that airplanes can defy gravity and carry a
bunch of people and luggage and fuel and make
it from point A to B," she said.
Peña came to the U.S. in 2000 to escape
violence being directed towards her family in
Colombia. She worked multiple jobs and put
herself through college to eventually get a job
in aviation.
Peña joined the Orlando International
Airport (MCO) Marketing and Air Service
Development team in December 2015 as
Alma Mater: Rollins College (undergrad) and University of
Miami (Grad)
Fun fact about yourself: I am obsessed with cats
Favorite aircraft: I think all aircrafts are magnificent gravitydefying creations. Since I must pick one, I would say 787

Spanish, French and Portuguese has enabled
Peña to build rapport with MCO's airline
partners. Peña played a key role in the return of
GOL Airlines from Brazil to MCO, overseeing
the project from proposal to wheels
down.
Most recently, she worked with
Aerolineas Argentinas to help seal
the deal announcing the coveted
MCO-Buenos Aires nonstop flight.
During her f irst year in
the team, Peña saw the need
to streamline the way airline
com mun ications and event
participation notes are tracked and shared among
the team. She took it upon herself to research,
identify and implement a customer relationship
management tool for MCO.
In 2016, she was recognized among Central
Florida's top 25 influential Hispanics.
www.AviationPros.com/21093766

UNDER

Are you a pilot?: No

assistant manager, business development.
She was promoted to her current position as
manager, air service and business development
in November 2017 where she recruits foreign
flag airlines to MCO.
Peña brought more than 10 years of
experience in economic development and
international business development, promoting
Orlando and Florida to the world. Although
Peña did not have an aviation background,
traveling and airplanes have always been her
passion.
She leverages her community network to
identify innovative marketing opportunities
to promote the airport and its airline partners.
Her knowledge of international cultures
and multicultural communications has
significantly helped shape the MCO air service
development strategy to pursue and build the
relationship with airlines in Latin America and
the Caribbean.
Being able to communicate f luently in

CELEBRATING
OUR VERY OWN
Airport Business Magazine

2019 Top 40 Under 40

JULIANA PE Ñ A
Manager, Air Service &
Business Development

Your Commitment to Orlando International Airport
Travelers and the Central Florida Community is
Valued Beyond Words.

OrlandoAirports.net | MCO.Your Florida Airport of Choice.®

NOVEMBER 2019 \ AVIATIONPROS.COM / 37

http://www.AviationPros.com/21093766 http://www.OrlandoAirports.net http://www.AVIATIONPROS.COM

Airport Business

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Airport Business