Catalonia to host Routes World 2027 to strengthen Barcelona’s intercontinental connectivity and boost the region’s global competitiveness

Barcelona will host the 32nd edition of Routes World in October 2027. Organised annually, Routes World provides a unique platform for strategic networking and route development discussions that support air service growth, connectivity and economic development. Routes is the platform where future global air connections are defined.

Ten years after the 2017 edition, when Barcelona hosted Routes World for the first time, Catalonia will host this event again with the aim of promoting the connectivity strategy that combines Barcelona's international projection with a complementary airport system, intermodality and a development model aimed at generating shared prosperity, with sustainability as a transversal axis.

The Secretary of Mobility and Infrastructure, Manel Nadal, highlighted that "this type of event serves as a springboard to new Asian destinations. Thanks to the meetings that take place at the fair, we promote the city and the country in places with which we do not yet have a direct connection. Without a doubt, receiving representatives of these cities and airlines in Barcelona is very important in the work we are carrying out”.

Raquel Gil, Deputy Mayor for Social Rights, Economic Promotion, Work, Feminisms and Democratic Memory of the Barcelona City Council: "The celebration of Routes World 2027 in Barcelona is a new opportunity to attract more companies, which generate quality employment for more people in the city, with better working conditions. It will allow us to delve deeper into better intercontinental connectivity, which reinforces Barcelona's strategy of economic diversification and commitment to high-value-added activity".

Arantxa Calvera, Director of the Catalan Tourist Board: "International connectivity is a lever to move from a model based on volume to a model based on value. It allows us to attract a conscious traveler and strengthen high-value activities added, such as international congresses, which generate shared prosperity for the entire territory."

Steven Small, Vice President of Air Transport Events Informa, explained: "2017 in Barcelona marked a record event for Routes, and we are delighted to bring the event to such a dynamic destination again. Our selection was based on Barcelona's strong strategic vision of attracting higher-value routes that would have a greater and more sustainable economic impact on the city and Catalonia."

Eva Valenzuela, Director of Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, comments that: "The connectivity of Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport generates a direct benefit for citizens: nearly one in two passengers is a resident of Catalonia, which reinforces the role of the airport as a strategic infrastructure for mobility, competitiveness and the international projection of the country."

Josep Santacreu, president of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, said: “It is great news that Barcelona is once again the international capital of the aeronautical sector. Our city has one of the best-connected airports in Europe and is in the midst of a race to boost its air routes, with special attention to intercontinental routes. Events like this, together with the action of organizations such as the Air Routes Development Committee, contribute to strengthening the city's position as an international destination and as a hub for knowledge, business and investment.”

In the last decade, Barcelona-El Prat has increased from 33 to 62 direct intercontinental connections, an increase of 88%, consolidating itself as one of the European airports with the fastest growth in long-haul routes and reinforcing its role as the country's international gateway. Catalonia is facing this new edition after more than two decades of institutional collaboration between the Generalitat, Barcelona City Council, Aena and the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce through the Air Route Development Committee.

The celebration of this fair is one of the actions included in the new 2026-2030 Strategic Plan of the CDRA. It represents a key opportunity to intensify the current roadmap towards expanding direct connections with the main intercontinental markets, which the Strategic Plan focuses on Asia-Pacific and the United States. Direct connections are an essential part of Catalonia's international positioning in the knowledge economy, innovation and the attraction of investment and talent retention.

Currently, more than 5.3 million passengers travel between Catalonia and international markets via stopover connections, demonstrating a consolidated demand that justifies the development of new direct connections. This potential is particularly concentrated in the United States (1.5 million O&D passengers not served), Asia-Pacific (593,000), China, Hong Kong and Taiwan (405,000), South America (314,000) and Japan (305,000).

This connectivity is key to the internationalization of Catalan companies and for the innovation and knowledge economy. According to the economic impact study prepared by the University of Barcelona and the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport generates 6.8% of Catalan GDP and more than 218,000 jobs, with an impact that extends far beyond airport activity and benefits sectors such as tourism, logistics, international trade and research. Barcelona is also a leader in Spain with 166 international congresses and ranks third worldwide according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) 2025. This leadership reinforces Catalonia's international positioning in the knowledge economy, innovation and the attraction of investment and talent retention. The MICE sector represents around 20% of the city's visitors and contributes to the deseasonalization of tourist activity.

With Routes World 2027, Catalonia will strengthen its international projection and consolidate a connectivity strategy at the service of competitiveness, territorial cohesion and sustainable economic development of the country. Beyond capturing new routes and strengthening current ones, the objective is to consolidate a country model that generates more economic, social and territorial value for Catalonia as a whole.