Record Year for Routes

Manchester, England (ots/PRNewswire) -

Organiser of world's largest civil aviation event aims for further
growth in 2013

Last year was a record year for Routes with more delegates than ever
before attending its World and Regional Route Development Forums,
despite the challenging macro-economic climate and considerable
headwinds for the aviation industry.

A record number of over 5,500 delegates attended the seven events
that Routes organised around the globe in 2012. These forums, which
focus entirely on aviation route development, have become the must
attend events of the year that shape the world's air services.

David Stroud, Executive Vice President of Routes said: "The record
attendance at our events highlights the importance of intelligent
network planning for airlines, airports and tourism authorities. More
and more people in the industry and beyond have grasped the strategic
role that air services play, not just for the aviation sector, but
for regional and national economies around the world. With over
15,000 face-to-face meetings taking place at World Routes alone, we
offer the fastest and most efficient platform for everyone involved
in creating new air links."

"We know the industry has another tough year ahead, but we are
confident that we will be able to welcome even more delegates this
year to our events that will include regional forums on all
continents and an even bigger and better World Routes in Las Vegas."

Highlights of 2012

Over 3,000 delegates including representation from over 300 airlines
and 750 airports gathered in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE at the
end of September for World Routes, the 18th World Route Development
Forum. The event, which this year was hosted by Abu Dhabi Airports
Company, is the largest gathering of the commercial air transport
community and the only global event focused on route development
meetings.

During World Routes, the 2nd World Route Development Strategy Summit
in association with ICAO and the World Bank took place. The event
opened with a keynote address from James Hogan, CEO of Etihad Airways
and attending delegates had the opportunity to hear from almost 50
high level speakers.

With the 10th Routes Asia in Chengdu, China, the 5th Routes Americas
in Nassau, The Bahamas, the 7th Routes Europe in Tallinn, Estonia,
the 7th Routes Africa in Victoria, The Seychelles, and the second
Routes CIS in Ekaterinburg, Russia, five successful Routes Regional
events took place during the year to foster air links within the
world's key regional aviation markets.

Among the highlights of the regional events was Routes Asia in China
which was attended by more airports and airlines than ever before.
The delegation of 672 included over 200 airline delegates
representing 85 airlines from across the Asia region and beyond.
Notable carriers attending the event included, Lion Air and Scoot
which were both attending for the first time along with the four
major carriers; China Southern, Air China, China Eastern. In May, the
Routes Europe Strategy Forum was opened by European Commission
Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for Transport and formerly
Prime Minister of Estonia, opened the event with a keynote address.
July saw the most successful and largest Routes Africa event to date
taking place in Victoria, Seychelles.

The second Invest & Manage took place in London in October, bringing
together a wide range of airports, airport operators and
infrastructure investors from across the world at a pivotal time. The
format of private face-to-face meetings allowed real business to be
done between airports seeking investment and management expertise,
investors looking for airport infrastructure opportunities, and
airport operators aiming to extend their portfolio of managed assets
around the world.

Looking ahead: events in 2013

At least seven events are planned for this year:

- Routes Americas: 10-12 February, Cartagena (Colombia)
- Routes Asia: 17-19 March, Mumbai (India)
- Routes Europe: 12-14 May, Budapest (Hungary)
- Routes CIS: (date and host to be announced soon)
- Routes Africa: 7-9 July, Kampala (Uganda)
- World Routes: 5-8 Oct, Las Vegas (USA)
- Invest & Manage Airports: 4-5 October, Las Vegas (USA)

Future events that have already been announced for 2014 include
Routes Europe (Marseille, France), Routes Asia (Kuching, Malaysia)
and World Routes (Chicago, USA).

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

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