Dates set for Routes 2012 in Abu Dhabi

As reported in Arabian Aerospace in September, the city of Abu Dhabi is to host the World Route Development Forum in 2012.

The event was confirmed today with dates being released for the first time.

Expected to be the largest ever, the 18th World Route Development Forum runs 30 September – 3 October 2012. ADNEC, the largest exhibition space in the region, is set to be fully occupied with up to 4,000 decision-making delegates in attendance.
“There is always intense competition to host Routes, the annual gathering of the people who make decisions as to where the world’s airlines fly,” says Mike Howarth, founder of Routes Development Group.
“Abu Dhabi met all the criteria; it is a new world aviation hub, ADNEC is now a major player on the international events circuit and the bidding partners led by the airport presented a compelling and powerful case.”

The World Route Development Forum is an annual event for the air service development industry, bringing together airlines, airports and tourism authorities. Providing opportunities to highlight route opportunities for airlines and host airports, the event also identifies areas for ongoing business development in the sector.

“Route development is the life-blood of any airport, airline and related industries,” says Khalifa Al Mazrouei, Chairman of ADAC. “Abu Dhabi International Airport is one of the fastest growing aviation hubs in the world today and 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.”

This year's Routes conference takes place in Vancouver and will be coverered in depth by Arabian Aerospace magazine