Abu Dhabi to host World Routes 2012

- For Immediate Release -

The Route Development Group (RDG) is pleased to announce that the 18th World Routes, the largest gathering of airlines, airports and tourism authorities in the world, is to be held in Abu Dhabi in 2012. The forum will be hosted by Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) between 30 September and 3 October.

The announcement was made at a press conference earlier today at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) where Khalifa Al Mazrouei, Chairman of ADAC, said: "Route development is the life-blood of any airport, airline and related industries and, with Abu Dhabi International one of the fastest growing aviation hubs in the world today, we are very happy to have been selected to host the world's leading air transport forum and event.

The winning bid is a collective achievement for Abu Dhabi as a whole, not just for the aviation sector, and provides an opportunity to showcase the UAE's capital city and the wider emirate to the world."

World Routes has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and is expected to attract over 3,500 delegates to the ADNEC facilities in 2012. The delegates will be high-level decision makers from across the global aviation industry.

Mike Howarth, Routes Chairman, added: "Abu Dhabi is fast becoming known as a new world hub for aviation, and the progress the region has made in recent years will be celebrated and confirmed with what we believe will be an impressive event. The bid that was put forward to secure the event in the region highlighted the commitment that ADAC has made to the development of the region's aviation infrastructure."

For more information about World Routes and all other Routes events please visit www.routesonline.com

- Ends -

Notes to Editors

Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) is a public joint-stock company wholly owned by the Abu Dhabi Government. It was incorporated by Amiri Decree number 5, issued on 4 March 2006, to spearhead the development of the Emirate's aviation infrastructure.

In September 2006, ADAC assumed responsibility for the operation and management of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain International Airports. In 2008, ADAC added Al Bateen Executive Airport (an exclusive private aviation airport), and Sir Bani Yas and Delma Island Airports to its portfolio.

These airports are geared to serve the various segments of air travellers, the aviation marketplace, and will help contribute to Abu Dhabi's development as a destination for both business and leisure tourism.

Currently under way is the large scale AED 25 (USD6.8) billion re-development and expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport 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. A new Air Traffic Control Tower is due to be operational in 2010 with the Midfield Terminal Complex development expected to open in 2015.

About Routes

World Routes - The World Route Development Forum - is the world renowned annual airline and airport networking event. Routes facilitates and encourages the role of airports in the development of air services through organising global and region specific airline/airport networking forums.

Routes Regional events include Routes Americas, Routes Asia, Routes Europe, Routes CIS and Routes Africa.

Routes was founded in 1995 by Chairman Mike Howarth as part of the Manchester UK-based ASM Ltd., a consultancy specialising in the field of route development for airports. www.asmglobal.com.

Both companies are now subsidiaries of RDG -The Route Development Group - which is the leading global solutions provider in the strategically important 'route development' sector of air transport. www.routedevgroup.com

In April 2007, Routes also won the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2007. The award, for outstanding business performance and commercial success, recognised Routes' sustained contribution to aviation route development through its innovative Regional and World Route Development Forums.

For further press information please contact Nadine Wenn at:

The Route Development Group (RDG)

T: +44 (0)161 234 2711

E: [email protected]

113-115 Portland Street

Manchester M1 6DW