Bahrain Airport Company to Host First Ever Routes MENA Event

PR57124

MANCHESTER, England, June 20 /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

     - 2015 sees new event for UBM Live as inaugural Routes MENA takes place in

the Kingdom of Bahrain

    It was announced today that in 2015 the first ever Routes MENA will take

place in the Kingdom of Bahrain, hosted by Bahrain Airport Company, late

November 2015. This inaugural event will see route development professionals

from across the MENA region gather to discuss air service development to, from,

and within the region.

    Bahrain, which is located in the Arabian Gulf, has a history of aviation

that dates back to the early 1920's. Historically it has acted as a gateway

between the East and West providing a natural transit destination for early

trade routes and a strategic hub for the Northern Gulf. In addition to

benefiting from a significant strategic location, The Kingdom of Bahrain is

also rich in history and culture with some historical sites dating back more

than 4,000 years.

     "It is with great anticipation that we welcome the Routes MENA 2015 to the

Kingdom of Bahrain," said Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, Chief Executive Officer,

Bahrain Airport Company: "We are delighted to be bringing this prestigious

event to Bahrain where we can show our visitors, first-hand the warm, welcoming

culture of our people and experience the efficient and friendly airport which

makes this country proud. Securing this prestigious inaugural event is the

result of the collective efforts of our partners and stakeholders and we are

confident that this world-class forum will reiterate Bahrain's role as an

aviation hub in the MENA region and highlight our deep-seeded aviation

heritage."

    "The MENA region has become very important from an aviation perspective. It

represents nearly 11% of global aviation - about double its share from a decade

ago - driven by global hub strategies in the Gulf and liberal aviation access

policies," said Katie Bland, Director Routes for UBM Live continuing: "We're

delighted that Bahrain Airport Company is hosting our very first Routes MENA

event dedicated to air service development to, from and within the MENA region

and look forward to working with their team."

     Bahrain Airport Company is currently in the design phase of a significant

modernisation programme for Bahrain International Airport with construction due

to commence in Q2 of 2015. Bahrain enjoys an open skies policy and offers

unrestricted access to a catchment area of more than 5m that extends to the

eastern province of Saudi Arabia.

     Routes MENA will become part of the global Routes portfolio organised by

UBM Live, which includes World Routes; Routes Asia; Routes Europe; Routes

Americas; Routes CIS/Silk Road; Routes Africa and Routesonline.

    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.

     About Bahrain Airport Company (BAC)

     Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) was established in 2008 with the mandate of

developing Bahrain International Airport (BIA). A key role is to deliver

enhanced and expanded capacity and infrastructure to accommodate future growth.

BAC also manages the operations and commercial aspects of the airport. For more

information visit: Web: http://www.bahrainairport.com

      Twitter: @BahrainAirport

      Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bahrain.Airport

      Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/bahrainairport/

      SOURCE: UBM Live Routes Ltd