Routes Americas Attracts Region's Major Airlines

AsiaNet 51594

MANCHESTER, England, Dec 6, /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

     - Carriers sign up in force for largest aviation networking forum in the

Americas

    The 6th Routes Americas, held in association with ALTA, will take place on

10-12 February 2013 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia hosted by Sociedad

Aeroportuaria de la Costa S.A. (SACSA) and its partners. The event, which is

the annual gathering of air service decision makers for the entire Americas

region, will bring together more than 350 delegates from airports, airlines,

tourism authorities and other industry stakeholders from across the Americas to

discuss air service development.

    The event is expected to attract over 60 airlines from across the Americas

and beyond and with over 35 carriers already registered to attend this figure

is expected to rise further. All four US network carriers; US Airways, American

Airlines, Delta Air Lines and the world's largest airline, United Airlines (who

attended the event for the first time this year) have already confirmed that

they will be in Colombia for the event along with the top low-cost carriers in

the US (JetBlue, Southwest, and Spirit). From elsewhere in the region

registrations have so far included Volaris, COPA Airlines, Aeromexico and

Colombia's home carrier, Avianca-TACA.

    Moreover, a strong presence from Canada looks likely with registrations

confirmed from Air Canada, who will return to the event for the first time

since 2009, and leading low cost carrier, WestJet, which boasts an extensive

network into the Caribbean, have also confirmed their attendance and will also

take meetings for their new subsidiary WestJet Encore whose initial schedule

will be announced in January 2013. Alaska Airlines and WestJet Encore have also

confirmed that they will deliver a Route Exchange Airline Briefing during the

event; these briefings will provide attending airports with a unique insight

into the carrier's planning process. It is expected that further briefings will

be confirmed over the coming weeks.

    Routes Americas attracts senior key decision makers, from a variety of

airlines, who are responsible for making decisions on both new and existing

routes and the 2013 event looks set to see attendance from many senior airline

delegates. Registrations of note so far include Mr Enrique Beltranena, CEO of

Volaris, Mr Barry Biffle, Executive VP & Chief Marketing Officer of Spirit

Airlines and Mr Nicolas Rhoads, Senior VP Commercial Planning of Aeromexico.

    Airline Relations Director, Paul Winfield commented: "This event has seen

year on year growth with more airlines than ever attending the event in 2012.

The number and range of registrations received so far is an encouraging sign

and is testament to the importance of this event for route development in the

entire Americas region. The diverse mix of airlines attending Routes Americas

in Cartagena confirms that this is a must attend event for airlines and

airports looking to do business in the Americas."

    For more information about Routes Americas and up to date attendee lists

please visit http://www.routesonline.com.

    Notes to Editors

    About Routes

    - Routes organises world-renowned airline and airport networking events

through its regional and global Route Development Forums. Each year, there is

one global event and one regional event in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas

and CIS respectively. http://www.routesonline.com

    - Routes was founded in 1995 as part of the Manchester UK-based ASM Ltd.,

a consultancy specialising in the field of route development for airports.

http://www.asm-global.com [http://www.asm%E2%80%90global.com ]

    - Routes and ASM were acquired by UBM Aviation Worldwide Ltd in August

2010.  From 1st August 2012 Routes, ASM and the Airport Cities Conference and

Exhibition become part of the UBM Live division of UBM plc.

    - UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across

five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products,

promote their brands and expand their markets. Through premier brands such as

MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show, the Routes

portfolio of events, Airport Cities and many others, UBM Live exhibitions,

conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and

certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies

across more than 20 industry sectors. http://www.ubmlive.com

    Follow us on twitter: @Routesonline, @TheHUBRoutes, @VictoriaRoutes,

@RouteExchange, @airlineroute

SOURCE: UBM Aviation Routes Ltd