Air France CEO to Open Routes Europe Strategy Summit

PR56323

MANCHESTER, England, Mar. 28 /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

    - Frederic Gagey, Chairman & CEO of Air France to give keynote address at

region's largest commercial aviation forum

    One of the highlights of this year's Routes Europe Strategy Summit will be

the keynote address from Frederic Gagey, Chairman & CEO of Air France. The

Summit, which is sponsored by Edmonton International Airport, 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.

    Mr. Gagey commented: "The Routes Europe Strategy Summit offers a unique

opportunity to promote dialogue between airlines, airports and aviation

stakeholders. At a time of volatile economic environment and increased

competition, it is key to meet, to exchange strategic views on the regulatory

environment and to plan for the future. We at Air France are proud to be part

of this unrivalled platform, gathering so many decision makers of the air

transport industry and organized in Marseille, a great city where, with 400

flights per week, our airline feels at home."

    "We are delighted that Mr. Frederic Gagey, Chairman & CEO of Air France has

accepted the invitation to open Routes Europe, by speaking at the Strategy

Summit," said Pierre Regis, Managing Director, Marseille-Provence Airport, Host

of Routes Europe 2014: "Last year Air France carried 3.1 million passengers to

and from Marseille Provence, consolidating its position of 1st airline at the

airport. Over the last few years Air France has played a key role in

Marseille-Provence's development, by successfully opening new international

routes, such as Moscow, Beirut, Berlin and Venice."

    Taking place on Sunday 6th April 2014 and open to all attending delegates,

the Strategy Summit will open Routes Europe in Marseille with discussions

focusing on topics such as: How the low cost carrier model is evolving;

Government policies and how industry bodies can work together to implement

changes for the good of the whole industry; and How, as the fastest growing

segment of the travel and tourism industry, the cruise industry can work more

closely with the aviation industry.

    Katie Bland, Director Routes for UBM Live commented: "We are thrilled that

Mr. Gagey will open the Strategy Summit at this year's Routes Europe in

Marseille, France's second city. Mr. Gagey will be in good company with the

excellent line-up of speakers this year that are sure to make for some very

interesting discussions around some of the most topical aviation issues

affecting the region."

    Many other industry thought leaders have confirmed their participation at

the second annual Routes Europe Strategy Summit including: John Hanlon,

Secretary General, ELFAA; Josef Formosa Gauci, Chief Executive Officer, Malta

Tourism Authority; Mark Anzur, President of the Management Board and CEO, Adria

Airways; Athar Husain Khan, CEO, Association of European Airlines; Pini Shani,

Director Overseas Department, Israel Ministry of Tourism; Fernando Estrada,

Strategy & Alliances Director, Vueling; Tamur Goudarzi Pour, Director Network

Planning, Lufthansa; John Weatherill, Director, Network & Schedule Planning,

WestJet and Christian Delom, Director of Strategy and New Technologies, Atout

France, the French national tourist office.

    Now in its 9th year, Routes Europe is the only network planning forum for

the entire European region and the 2014 event, which is expected to attract

representatives from almost 70 countries, will be hosted by Marseille-Provence

Airport at the Palais du Pharo in the picturesque regional capital of Southern

France. Routes Europe brings together over 1,000 delegates from airports,

airlines, tourism authorities and other industry stakeholders from across

Europe to discuss air service development.

    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. Routes and ASM are 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,

@NLPROU, @airlineroute

    About UBM plc

    - UBM plc is a global events-led marketing services and communications

company. We help businesses do business, bringing the world's buyers and

sellers together at events and online, as well as producing and distributing

news and specialist content. Our 5,500 staff in more than 30 countries are

organised into expert teams which serve commercial and professional

communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively

and efficiently.

    - For more information, go to http://www.ubm.com; follow us on Twitter at

@UBM_plc [http://twitter.com/UBM_plc ] to get the latest UBM corporate news;

follow @UBM for news from all UBM's businesses; follow @UBM for a flavour of

UBM from selected members of UBM's Twitterati.

SOURCE: UBM Live Routes Ltd