Denver, Colorado, USA was today named as the host city for the 8thRoutes Americas event, which will take place in February 2015 and hosted by Denver International Airport, supported by Visit Denver. This will mark the first time that Routes Americas, the route development forum for the entire Americas region, will be held in North America.

Speaking from Denver, Michael B. Hancock, the Mayor of the City & County of Denver, commented “We are extremely excited to host Routes Americas in 2015 and provide a ‘Mile High’ welcome to airlines and airports from across North and South America,” he said.  “Expanding our global connectivity through Denver International Airport is a critical component of our ongoing international outreach efforts.”   

Kim Day, Manager of Aviation, Denver International Airport added “By hosting Routes Americas in 2015 we will be able to showcase all that Denver and Colorado have to offer as airlines look to expand their networks.”

Adrian Newton, Group Director- Transport and Technology, UBM Live, organisers of the event, commented “We are thrilled to be taking Routes Americas to Denver in February 2015, which will be the first time that the event will take place in the USA. Denver International Airport will celebrate its 20thanniversary and the FIS World Ski Championships will be hosted in Vail and Beaver Creek in the same month so it will be an exciting time to be there.  Denver International Airport allows superb air access for the hundreds of delegates that will attend the event from across North and South America, the Caribbean as well as from further afield.  Denver - the Mile High City - is a fantastic city that we are sure delegates will enjoy visiting.  We look forward to working with the Denver International Airport and Visit Denver teams towards a great event in 2015”.

In 2012 Denver International Airport served over 53 million passengers and ranked as the 5th-busiest airport in North America and the 13th-busiest airport in the world. Sixteen passenger airlines provide nearly 1,600 daily flights to more than 180 worldwide destinations nonstop from Denver International. Denver International Airport is a hub for United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines. In addition, Denver International is served by six foreign-flag carriers: Aeromexico, Air Canada, British Airways, Icelandair, Lufthansa and Volaris. In terms of domestic U.S. destinations served, Denver’s robust network ranks second only to Atlanta (ATL): passengers today can reach more than 160 U.S. destinations in 45 states nonstop.

Denver International Airport will celebrate its 20thanniversary on 28 February 2015 and, in addition, the first major expansion to Denver International since 1995 is currently underway and will be completed in the first half of 2015. The South Terminal Redevelopment Program (STRP) will include the development of a new hotel and conference centre, public transit centre and public plaza for community programming and events that connects the development to the existing Jeppesen Terminal.

Denver has an iconic skyline located against the stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains and the city is located just 340miles/547 kilometres from the exact centre of the continental United States – closer to the centre of the nation than any of city of its size. Coupled with an impressive air service, Denver also has a very strong public ground transportation system that connects the metropolitan area’s three million residents.

Routes Americas attracts air service development professionals from North America, Central America, Latin America and the Caribbean and is the only airline/airport networking event that recognises the vital interdependence of these markets and their air links.