Routes Europe to Open to Record Numbers in Budapest

Over 1,000 industry decision makers to meet to discuss the future of the region's air services

MANCHESTER, England, May 8, 2013 /CNW/ - Routes Europe, now in its 8^th year, will welcome a record number of attendees when the 2013 event opens in Budapest in four days time.  The event will be hosted by Budapest Airport, supported by Hungarian Tourism, at the SYMA Conference Venue, Hungary's newest and most modern, state-of-the-art multifunctional facility.

Over 275 airline delegates, representing over 115 leading airlines from across the European region and beyond, will be represented at Routes Europe, which will take place from 12-14 May.  With a 60% plus growth in airline delegate numbers since last year's event in Tallinn, Estonia, this makes Routes Europe 2013 the largest European route development event ever.

The event will see attendance from all of the region's low cost carriers (Ryanair, easyJet, Norwegian, Wizz Air, Germanwings, Vueling, Volotea and Transavia) along with the largest number of full service carriers ever to attend Routes Europe with registrations received from Lufthansa, British Airways, Iberia, Air France, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, SAS, Czech Airlines and Alitalia.

From further afield all four of the Middle Eastern major carriers (Etihad, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Oman Air) will attend the event along with American Airlines, Air Transat and China Southern.  Many of the airlines in attendance will include senior delegations such as Wizz Air, Nasair, SkyWork Airlines and Aer Arann whose CEOs will all be in Budapest for this unrivalled event.  The event will also include seven Route Exchange Airline Briefings from Lufthansa, Germanwings, easyJet, HOP!/Air France, Air Nostrum, SkyWork and Darwin Airline.  These briefings, given by senior network planners, are an opportunity for attending airports to gain an overview of the carriers, allowing them to view, first-hand, what information the airline requires from the airports when making route proposals.

In addition to the meetings taking place at Routes Europe a panel of leading industry experts will take part in a number of moderator led discussions during the Strategy Summit which will open the event on Sunday 12^th May.  These sessions will address issues affecting aviation and route development across the region including what effect the EU freeze on ETS will likely have on traffic from the US and China into the EU, Survival of the Fittest - Consolidation, Mergers & Alliances and The Future Evolution of the LCC Business Model.  Highlights of the Summit will include a keynote address from József Váradi. CEO of Wizz Air and a keynote presentation from Mr Yiorgos Lakkotrypis, Minister of Commerce, Industry & Tourism for Cyprus entitled Cyprus - What Happens Next during which, attendees will hear about the country's future plans.

"The year on year growth of Routes Europe has surpassed even our own expectations," said David Stroud, Executive Vice President, Routes continuing:  "We are pleased, once again, to be welcoming record numbers of delegates to the event and that these delegates are of such a high calibre shows that Routes Europe is the region's leading network development event where the future of air service for the region will be shaped for years to come."

Jost Lammers, CEO of Budapest Airport commented:  "Budapest Airport is delighted to welcome all delegates attending the Routes Europe Conference to this great city.  This is an extremely good opportunity for us to demonstrate the massive potential for route development in the market for existing and new airlines.  My team and I are ready to hold many meetings with delegates and look forward to celebrating the beauty of our city throughout the conference whilst giving a fantastic airport experience for your return journey, which we trust will help convince you to put Budapest and Hungary on your network map."

Gergely Horváth, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Hungarian Tourism Plc. added:  "To be able to react to the demands of the steadily changing world we strive to diversify our activities: we look for new opportunities and markets to be targeted. Therefore, in addition to the Arabic, Russian, and Chinese markets, where we have already been present, we are mapping the touristic opportunities in other Eastern developing countries.  In order to stimulate air traffic towards Hungary, it is necessary to develop the air accessibility of our country from the new potential emerging markets.  As a joint effort of Hungarian Tourism Plc. and Budapest Airport Plc., Routes Europe is a great opportunity to introduce the splendours of Budapest and Hungary to nearly 1,000 airline and airport decision makers and help encourage the opening of new routes to Hungary."

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 were acquired by UBM Aviation Worldwide Ltd in August 2010.  From 1^st 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, @NLPROU, @airlineroute

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SOURCE: UBM Live Routes Ltd

Victoria Jones, PR Executive, Routes, T: [phone], E: [email protected]