Routes Americas, the annual gathering of air service decision makers for all of the Americas, has been officially launched.

The 2012 event, the fifth staging of the annual show, will take place from February 19th-21st 2012 and is to be hosted by Nassau Airport Development Company (NADC).

The Bahamas, which is centrally located within the Americas, is the ideal location for airports, airlines, tourism authorities, policy leaders, Keynote speakers and exhibitors to meet, do business and plan for the future.

Routes Americas attracts key decision makers from a wide variety of airlines.

With legacy, low-cost, regional and charter carriers all in attendance, airlines are represented by senior key decision makers that are responsible for making decisions on both new and existing routes.

Among others airlines such as American Airlines, Copa Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Insel Air, Southwest Airlines and TAM Linhas Aereas have already confirmed their attendance for the 2012 event proving that this is the event for all of the Americas and is suitable for both international and domestic network planners.

In addition to the one-to-one meetings the Routes Americas Strategy Forum will take place on the afternoon of Sunday February 19th.

A panel of leading industry experts will take part in moderator led discussions addressing aviation and route development issues across the Americas region including:

Taxation - the real cost to the economy and the impact on the aviation industry
Airport Privatisation – short term expectations, long term investment and lessons learnt from across the globe.

Cargo Trends – issues affecting growth and potential in the region.

The state of the American market.

The Forum, which is open to all Routes Americas delegates, promises to be both stimulating and enjoyable with moderators encouraging debate between the panellists and members of the audience.