Routes Americas Boosted by Traffic Growth and US-Colombian Open Skies Agreement

AsiaNet 52060

MANCHESTER, England, Feb. 7 / PRN=KYODO JBN / --

    Region's Top Twenty Carriers to Attend Cartagena Event

    Routes Americas 2013, which will take place in Cartagena, Colombia from

10-12 February, will see the strongest airline list ever assembled at the

event. For the first time, the top 20 scheduled carriers in the Americas will

all be in attendance.

    Participation in the event is boosted by growing passenger numbers and air

links across the region, triggered by strong economic growth and more open

markets in a number of key countries. Most recently, an open skies agreement

between the US and Colombia entered into force on 1 January 2013, which already

encouraged several airlines to unveil plans to add services between the two

countries this year.

    David Stroud, Executive Vice President Routes, is looking forward to the

event: "The Americas is a very dynamic region that is rapidly becoming more

connected. We currently witness how growing economic ties between different

parts of the region combined with more open markets lead to increasing

passenger flows and new air services. This is one of the main reasons why we

see the region's top 20 carriers attending Routes Americas this year. Something

exciting is happening in the Americas region, and everyone wants to be part of

this growth story."

    Routes Americas, now in its 6th year, is the only annual event designed to

facilitate meetings between senior airport executives and airline route

decision makers as well as tourism authorities from North, Central, South

America and the Caribbean. This year's event is hosted by Sociedad

Aeroportuaria de la Costa S.A, and its partners; Cartagena de Indias, Pro

Export Colombia and The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Colombia.

    "It is not a secret that Cartagena de Indias is thrilled with the

opportunity to host Routes Americas 2013," commented Ramon Pereira, Legal

Representative for Sociedad Aeroportuaria de la Costa S.A (SACSA). Pereiera

went on to explain: "We believe it will provide us with a unique chance to

engage with the most important airline industry leaders, tourism consultants

and airports, at a time of exceptional change and enhanced opportunities in our

city".

    The event is expected to attract over 65 airlines from across the region

and beyond, as well as almost 120 airport delegates representing 145 airports.

All four US network carriers - US Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines

and the world's largest airline, United Airlines - will be in Colombia for the

event along with the top US low-cost carriers Southwest, JetBlue and Spirit.

    From other parts of the Americas region leading airlines such as Gol,

Volaris, COPA Airlines, Aeromexico, Colombia's home carrier, Avianca-TACA and

Vivaaerobus are expected at the event. Moreover, a strong presence from Canada

will be present at Cartagena with delegates from Air Canada and leading low

cost carrier WestJet. Out of region carriers who have confirmed their

attendance in the event include Condor, Norwegian and Turkish Airlines.

    Taking place on Sunday 10th February 2013 and open to all attending

delegates, the Routes Americas Strategy Summit, which is being held in

association with the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association

(ALTA), will open Routes Americas in Cartagena. The Strategy Summit will

provide a valuable insight into aviation across the region as panels of leading

industry experts take part in a number of moderator-led discussions addressing

key air service development issues effecting commercial aviation across the

entire Americas.

    Attendees of the Summit, which is sponsored by Corporacion Quiport S.A.,

will hear opening remarks from Minister Sergio Diaz-Granados, Minister of

Trade, Industry and Tourism for Colombia and keynote addresses from Alex de

Gunten, Executive Director of ALTA and Estuardo Ortiz, Chief Operating Officer

of AviancaTaca. Four moderator led sessions covering various aviation related

subjects affecting the Americas region will then take place including senior

level delegates such as Hernan Pasman, CEO of LAN Colombia who was recently

added to the programme.

    If you have editorial responsibility and would like to register as a free

of charge press delegate for Routes Americas, please contact Victoria Jones at

Routes providing your name, company / publication name, job title and email

address.

    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 premiere 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