Aviation Leaders Head to Xi’an to Define Future Regional Air Connectivity

April 13, 2026

The 22^nd edition of Routes Asia will welcome vice presidents and network planning leaders from over 115 of Asia’s top airlines, hosting more than 2,500 meetings with airport and destination partners to identify and develop new route opportunities.

Carriers in attendance include Air China, Air Premia, British Airways, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, IndiGo, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and Virgin Australia. View the attendee list

Routes Asia 2026 will also see more than 25 experts from the regions airlines, airports, tourism authorities and suppliers to participate in the event’s Conference Programme. The line-up includes:

ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East’s Director General, Stefano Baronci, will outline the state of the airport industry.
Zhang Wuan, Vice President and Spokesman at Spring Airlines will share exclusive updates on the airline’s future route development strategies.
Jay L Lingeswara, Chief Commercial Officer, VietJet Qazaqstan will discuss VietJet's vision for future growth and fleet expansion.

This year’s event is hosted by China West Airport Group. Affiliated with the Shaanxi Provincial Government, it is the second-largest large-scale airport group in China that manages operations across the provinces. It oversees 18 airports across the three provinces of Shaanxi, Ningxia, and Qinghai and forms an airport cluster that is centered on Xi’an Xianyang International Airport, extending to Yinchuan Hedong International Airport and Xining Caojiapu International Airport. It’s supported by 12 branch airports and 3 general-purpose airports.

Steven Small, Director of Routes, said: “We are delighted to bring Routes Asia back to China for the first time in almost a decade. Xi’an provides an exceptional backdrop this year, as a city with unparalleled historical significance and one of the most dynamic aviation markets in the region. China West Airport Group is playing a crucial role in strengthening Northwest China’s aviation ecosystem. Their continued investment in infrastructure is exemplified by the multiyear expansion of Xi’an Xianyang International Airport, which has increased its annual passenger handling capacity to 80 million and will further scale through additional runway and terminal development.”

The leaders of the Xi’an government said: “Xi’an is an ancient capital city of thousands of years, and it is the capital city with the most dynasties, the longest time and the greatest influence in Chinese history. Xi'an is also the national central city targeted by the Chinese government, the comprehensive national science center, the scientific and technological innovation center, the national important scientific research and cultural education center, and the high-tech industry and manufacturing base. I believe that Xi’an's long history and culture, rich tourism resources, significant opening advantages, and abundant scientific and creative resources will definitely make the Routes Asia more exciting!”

Yang Ou, chairman of China West Airport Group, said: “China West Airport Group is the second largest large-scale airport management group operating across provinces in China, and currently operate 18 airports in Shaanxi, Ningxia and Qinghai provinces. Xi’an Xianyang International Airport, the core of the China West Airport Group, is one of the top ten international aviation hubs in China, and it is also a complex international aviation hub airport determined by the state to face Central and Eastern Europe, Central and Western Asia and radiate the "the Belt and Road". In December last year, the main construction of the Xi’an airport third expansion project were successfully put into operation. This year, the rest of the construction projects of the third phase of Xi’an Airport will be gradually put into use, which will fully enter a new stage of three-runway operation and achieve a new leap of four-runway operation. In the future, it will be able to meet the security needs of 83 million passengers and 1 million tons of cargo per year. Taking advantage of the cooperation opportunity of the Routes Asia, China West Airport Group is willing to work with domestic and foreign airlines and civil aviation colleagues to jointly set up the Air Silk Road of the new era.”