Tourism boards and airlines across MENA gearing up for World Routes

The countdown to the 17th World Routes has begun. The event is where decision makers from the world's airlines, airports and tourist boards gather annually to plan air services and discuss strategies for the global aviation industry.

It is expected that 2500 delegates from all over the world will gather in Berlin from 2 to 4 October, representing 300 airlines and 750 airports as well as numerous destinations and tour operators. In total, around 15,000 meetings will take place at the event.

Among this year’s participants are all leading airlines and tourism boards within the Middle East, including Iraq, Egypt and Jordan.

Other leading airlines attending include Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France/KLM, Emirates and Singapore Airlines as well as airports from around the globe.

The World Route Development Strategy Summit will provide the latest insights from over 50 high-profile aviation leaders and CEOs, including Hussain Dabbas, President and CEO, Royal Jordanian Airline, Alex Cruz, CEO of Vueling, and James Bennett, CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports Company. The conference will focus on the most significant challenges currently facing the air transport industry and showcase the latest innovations in key growth markets.

World Routes 2011 is hosted by Berlin Airports which will allow delegates to experience the future Berlin Brandenburg Airport. The German capital’s new gateway will open in June 2012 and is to become Europe’s most modern airport.

Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany commented on World Routes in her welcome address to delegates: “It is moreover an excellent international forum in which individual airports can advertise themselves as the destinations of the future. I am therefore delighted that Berlin is this year playing host to the World Routes conference. Berlin is a city that exerts a special fascination on visitors from near and far. The new Berlin Brandenburg Airport will open for business next year and will be a great boost for the capital and a showpiece for all of Germany.”