Routes goes global

The Burj Al Arab hotel: a Dubai landmark

This year the World Route Development Forum will be in the Middle East for the first time in 10 years, reflecting its increasingly international status. And while Routes has almost always been held in Europe, record delegate numbers are expected.

Routes chairman and founder Mike Howarth says the choice to move the event to Dubai was a deliberate decision to target a more global audience. “We wanted to move the event outside Europe to ensure it was a world event. Dubai was thought to be a good first step as it’s not too far from Europe and it’s well connected to points outside the Middle East.”

Airline Business and online news service Air Transport Intelligence (ATI) are media partners to Routes, which is being hosted by Dubai International Airport. As many as 2,000 delegates are expected to attend, including 300 airlines and 600 airports. They will come together to discuss new route opportunities in an estimated 25,000 one-to-one meetings.

Networking

Routes will feature an expanded, themed, Networking Village, where delegates can meet informally. There are 17 hosted stands within the village with different activities going on throughout the day. The limited stand numbers are “deliberately exclusive” for meetings. Sunday, the first day of Routes, will be Open House in the Networking Village, where exhibitors will provide hospitality.

The New Airline Hall will return again this year, after a successful time at Routes Madrid in 2004 and Copenhagen in 2005. New airlines attending include Aerosvit, Air Arabia, Air Burundi, Astral Aviation, Fly Air, Sama and Slock Air International. Sponsored by OAG, the hall allows airports to see some of the more unusual airlines all in one place. Howarth says airport representatives will have the opportunity to meet 30 new airlines – something that would be impractical to do on an individual basis.

New airports registering for Routes cover a vast geographical spread including Adelaide, Bujumbura, Lambert St Louis, Memphis and San Diego. The breakdown of organisations by region is: 43% Europe, 31% North America, 15% Asia Pacific and 11% Middle East and Africa.

New to Routes in 2006 is the Knowledge Centre. This centre is a handy one-stop shop for information for delegates wanting to do some research. Here they can access diary advice, OAG airline information and the ATI Internet Café. There is also an extra meetings desk.

Also being introduced in 2006 is a press conference opportunity for new route announcements. This will give carriers exposure and help promote their new routes. A dedicated panel of industry experts, including consultants and data providers will attend.

In the Routes tradition of work hard, play hard, the Gala Dinner will “take your breath away”, according to the organisers. It will take place in the desert and will have an Arabian theme. The dinner also encompasses the Airport Marketing Awards, sponsored by OAG.

Trends

This is the 12th year that the Routes event has been held, and the event has evolved over time. Organisers have noticed an increase in activity from the Middle East, with airlines Emirates, Gulf Air and Qatar Airways all attending. And suppliers Jet-X, United Aviation Services and Air Charter International are also represented.

Tourism authorities from Aruba, Cancun, Gambia and Puerto Rico will attend, as will financial services organisations. Representatives from Ernst & Young, for example, are doing a presentation on the capital consequences of financing route development. ■

Source: Airline Business