Abu Dhabi picks up World Routes banner
After a very successful World Routes at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, the event has officially handed over to Abu Dhabi Airports Company who will host the 18th World Route Development Forum in 2012.
The destination has seen its star continue to rise in recent months, with the prestigious World Travel Awards also selecting Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority as the World’s Leading Tourist Board in 2010.
Speaking at the press conference in Berlin James Bennett, chief executive of Abu Dhabi Airports Company said: “World Routes is the aviation event of the year, as it brings together airlines, airports and tourism authorities, and acts as a platform for airlines and airports to investigate route opportunities, as well as identifying areas for ongoing business development.
“We are delighted and eager to showcase to this audience of aviation experts and professionals, Abu Dhabi: an attractive and dynamic destination, with the business and leisure potential that ensure a successful and sustainable route from airlines.”
Abu Dhabi is one of the world’s richest cities and fast becoming one of its top destinations, equally accessible from Europe, Asia and Africa.
Among the many attractions Abu Dhabi has to offer are the parks, fountains and beach of the Corniche, the Grand Mosque and the Ferrari World theme park, alongside the F1 circuit on Yas Island.
“This will be the pinnacle event of the 2012 Routes calendar including Routes Americas in Nassau, Routes Asia in Chengdu, Routes Europe in Tallinn, Routes CIS in Ekaterinburg and Routes Africa, destination to be announced,” said David Stroud, executive vice president Airports, Routes of UBM Aviation.
He added: “Abu Dhabi will provide us with a Routes first where we return to a previous host city.
“World Routes was held there in 1996, as the event was in its formative period, we are delighted to be returning.”
The event will take place from September 30th-October 2nd 2012.
A multi-billion dollar re-development and expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport is currently underway and is designed to increase the overall capacity of the airport to more than 20 million passengers per year.
As part of this redevelopment, a second runway and a third terminal have been completed.
Next year the event is expected to grow again and the 18th World Route Development Forum is expected to be the largest ever planned, as more than 3,000 decision-making delegates are estimated to attend the event.
Chicago 2014
Still not enough World Routes?
Also confirmed at the end of the annual event this year was the host for 2014 – with Chicago, United States, stepping up to the plate.
Representatives from The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), its partners and stakeholders and UBM Aviation attended a signing ceremony earlier to cement the decision.
The city will host the 20th World Route Development Forum, which will be held in September 2014.
Don Welsh, chief executive of Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, said: “This host opportunity is a key component to Chicago’s strategy to enhance its presence on the world stage.
“Conference delegates will find Chicago to be a most enjoyable location with its downtown lakefront setting.”