Routes Asia to Open in Malaysia

PR56085

MANCHESTER, England, Mar. 6/PRN=KYODO JBN/--

       Continent's largest route development event to attract almost

             400 airlines, airports and tourism authorities

   The 12th Routes Asia, the largest route development forum for the entire

Asia region, will open this weekend in Kuching, capital of the State of Sarawak

in Malaysia.

   This year's event, which will take place from 9 to 11 March, is hosted by

the Ministry of Tourism Sarawak and co-hosted by Malaysia Airports Holdings

Berhad (MAHB). The hosting of one of Asia's most important civil aviation

events is testimony of the growing importance of Kuching as an international

air hub and destination.

   Routes Asia will bring together around 800 delegates representing 100

airlines, almost 230 airports and almost 60 countries to develop new air

services to, from and within the Asia-Pacific region. The event attracts the

highest level of decision-makers, including around 100 industry leaders and

senior policy makers.

   Sarawak's Minister for Tourism Datuk Amar Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin

Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg said: "The interest showed by the aviation community

in coming to Kuching has been tremendous. We have had some serious enquiries

from several airlines wanting to fly to Kuching from China and Routes Asia 2014

would be a perfect backdrop to turning these plans into reality."

   Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad, Managing Director of MAHB added: "We hope Routes Asia

2014 will showcase Kuching's unique advantage of being able to cater to both

the business and leisure tourism sectors. I hope you will also get to savour

the warm and friendly hospitality that Kuching is famous for."

   "As one of the largest and fastest growing aviation markets in the world,

Asia-Pacific is a key strategic priority for Routes," said Adrian Newton, Group

Director Transport and Technology at UBM Live continuing: "This dynamic region

is forecast to require over 10,000 new aircraft over the coming 20 years to

accommodate an average traffic growth of nearly 6% per annum. Malaysia's and

Kuching's importance for aviation and tourism are growing fast, and we are

delighted to be organising the region's most important route development event

in a destination with such potential for new air services."  

   The region's leading airlines will be represented by senior delegations in

Kuching, including Malaysia Airlines, China Southern, Cathay Pacific, Air

China, AirAsia Group, Japan Airlines, Spring Airlines, Jetstar Airways, LionAir

and Scoot.  In addition several out of region carriers have also confirmed

their attendance at the event including LOT Polish Airlines, British Airways,

Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Etihad Airways.

   The Routes Asia Strategy Summit, which will take place on 9 March, will see

an impressive line-up of senior industry executives, including Azran

Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X; Tara Naidu, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India

Express; Andrew Cowen, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong Express; Tan

Sri Bashir, Managing Director, Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad; and Girish

Nair, Chief Commercial Officer, GoAir.

   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 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