Europe’s Largest Route Development Forum Underway in Prague

This past weekend, Routes kicked off the region’s biggest networking event for the air transport industry at the Hilton in Prague, Czech Republic.

The 4th Routes Europe will come to a close Tuesday and is bringing together key decision makers involved in route development, from airlines and airports to tourism authorities and industry suppliers.

Hosted by Prague Airport, this unique platform allows the discussion and planning of route development and –more important in these uncertain economic times– of route recovery. Contacts made at Routes Europe will help delegates to prepare for World Routes in Beijing, Sept. 13 to 15, 2009.

Amongst some 70 airlines, Ryanair, easyJet, Germanwings, and Wizz Air are attending, and so are the Tirana International Airport (Albania), Avignon Airport (France), Sarajevo Airport (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and Blackpool International Airport (UK), along with more than 200 other airports.

“Routes Europe is Europe’s largest forum on air transport development, and this is the first time ever that such an event is held in the Czech Republic,” says Senior Executive Director of Aviation Business, Operation and Properties Management Jiri Pos and adds: “Thus we have a unique opportunity to present the equipment, infrastructure and background of Prague International Airport as well as Prague as an attractive destination to those who directly decide on launching new air routes.”

With a mixture of prescheduled one-to-one meetings and informal networking opportunities, the 4th Routes Europe is expected to bring the highest turnout ever experienced at any of Routes’ regional events.

“This suggests that industry professionals are acknowledging that in these difficult economic times, it is more important than ever to join with each other in furthering what is a common goal: to develop new and maintain existing air services,” event leader Natasha Peck asserted.

Peck notes that the patterns of attendance are further evidence to what has long been a theory within the industry –that it is through regular meetings between airlines, airports and tourism authorities that real progress can be made.

Routes Europe is only part of the annual agenda for the route development industry; it is the last but one of Routes’ regional events, with only Routes Africa remaining, before the industry heads to Beijing, where the 2009 program culminates at the 15th World Routes.