Live blog from Routes Asia 2017

Stay tuned to this blog to see what's happening right now at Routes Asia 2017, with latest updates from the Strategy Summit, exhibition floor, industry news and social media posts.

16:20 - Sunshine Coast secures Routes Asia success

It has been a great few months for Sunshine Coast Airport in Australia. After surpassing the one million passenger milestone in 2016 it recently became the first Australian airport to be recognised as being carbon neutral. In a matter of days there will be a special smoking ceremony for its Runway extension project, something that will deliver enhanced connectivity to the coastal region.

"I have been coming to Routes events for a number of years as part of a long-term educational plan to tell people about the project," said Peter Pallot, general manager, Sunshine Coast Airport. "This has been successful and meetings these past couple of days here in Okinawa has reinforced that and the view that we will be ready to add new air links as soon as the Runway project is completed."

While's Peter's bags will be a lot lighter after distributing cuddly Koala to delegates, he does have one addition to his luggage... the Routes Asia Marketing Award for airports handling less than four million passengers, which was presented at last night's networking evening. "It was an absolute surprise. It was a win for us to be nominated," he said. "To be able to take back the trophy to the Sunshine Coast is just amazing. I am overwhelmed to be recognised by the airline community for the efforts we are putting in to developing the airport."

15:20 - ASM opens doors to its post Routes clinic

You have had all your meetings at Routes Asia – there is a lot to take in after some fantastic conversations and networking. Now what? This special Post Routes Clinic highlighted how airports and destinations can maximise those meetings. ASM is the world’s first aviation route development consultancy, provided expertise on how to take the event conversations to the next level.

One key area identified by Aidan Mooney, vice president consulting, ASM was relationship management and the creation of an engagement plan with target airlines. "You need to make sure you stay in regular contact with your targets. If you have new information or something changes, you need to tell the airlines as that could push you up the interest list. These are busy people so you can't asssume they will know things," he said.

14:45 - China Southern grows New Zealand seasonal frequencies

https://twitter.com/Airlineroute/status/844027043960569857

Speaking to Routesonline at Routes Asia, Gordon Bevan, airline business development manager, Christchurch International Airport said: "We are really pleased to grow with China Southern Airlines as part of our efforts to deliver sustainable air access between China and New Zealand."

13:30 - handing over the Routes baton to Brisbane...

We still have an afternoon of meetings and networking opportunities, but customary at Routes events we are looking ahead to next year's event, which will take place in Brisbane. At lunch a special handover ceremony took place as this year's excellent Routes Asia hosts Okinawa Prefectural Government and Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau to next year's consortium of hosts, comprising Brisbane Airport Corporation, Brisbane Marketing, Tourism Australia, Tourism Events Queensland and Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

11:30 - around the floor

It may be the last morning, but everyobe remains in high spirits across the networking area as scheduled formal and numerous informal meetings takes place across the venue.

10:45 - understanding the airlines

VietJet Air has changed the way people fly in Vietnam. But, how can airports and destinations work to intice the airline into their markets? Jay L Lingeswara, deputy director commercial, strategy and planning at the airline explained what the airline looks for when making route development decisions.

08:00 - day three gets underway

We're about to get underway in the third and final day of Routes Asia.

There is a packed day of meetings today and also our airline Routes Talks briefings - see the full programme here.

02:00 - Routes Asia marketing award winners round-up

The full list of winners and companies shortlisted under each award category were as follows:

Overall Winner

Singapore Changi International Airport

Over 20 Million Passengers

• Singapore Changi International Airport - Winner
• Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport - Highly Commended
• Narita International Airport Corporation
• Incheon International Airport
• Kuala Lumpur International Airport

4 - 20 Million Passengers

• Adelaide International Airport - Winner
• Mactan Cebu International Airport - Highly Commended
• Auckland International Airport
• Christchurch International Airport
• Nagoya Chubu Centrair International Airport

Under 4 Million Passengers

• Sunshine Coast Airport - Winner
• Bhubaneswar Airport
• Boracay International Airport
• Guam International Airport
• Queenstown Airport

Destination Award

• Philippine Department of Tourism - Winner
• Auckland Tourism
• Taiwan Tourism Bureau
• Tourism Malaysia
• Maldives Tourism Promotion Board

00:00 - networking evening highlights from social media

https://twitter.com/routesonline/status/843783420522217472

https://twitter.com/routesonline/status/843785529804111872

https://twitter.com/routesonline/status/843788223386193921

https://twitter.com/routesonline/status/843799291017777152

23:00 - Singapore Changi International Airport wins Routes Asia marketing award

Singapore's Changi International Airport was announced as the overall winner of the Routes Asia 2017 Marketing Awards at a ceremony yesterday evening alongside the Okinawa Convention Center in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.

The annual Routes Marketing Awards recognise excellence in airport and destination marketing. Airlines vote for the marketing services that support the successful launch of new routes or the development of existing ones, making them highly regarded in the aviation industry.

Read more >

17:00 - Lucky Air tell us their ambitious growth plans

Chinese low-cost carrier Lucky Air has told Routesonline that it plans to continue its growth into the long-haul market with ten bases across China.

Read more >

16:40 - our final Routes Talks session

Jonathan Hutt, Social Marketing Director, Spring Airlines, discusses Understanding Social Media in China

"Weibo is a critical tool for your branding. However its impact is being eroded by WeChat; if you don't know about WeChat hang your head in shame.

"Average spend on WeChat is about 100 RMB per month and - more importantly - they are constantly looking for new products on the platform."

"Why do airlines spend so much money on traditional marketing campaigns when they will fail with milennials?"

https://twitter.com/HannahBrewer23/status/843728866665418753

https://twitter.com/winglets747/status/843728335108677633

https://twitter.com/CarolynBurnett1/status/843728719772553217

15:00 - standing out from the crowd

READ our write-up of this morning's Routes Talks session from Wilco Sweijen, director aviation marketing, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on what differentiates the European hub apart from others in terms of marketing.

Hop, Schiphol and jump! – Amsterdam showcases aviation marketing
In the aviation world competition is not only between airlines, but also between airports and increasingly so. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol was one of the first to actively promote its airport to passengers and airlines, according to Wilco Sweijen, director aviation marketing, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, who highlighted what differentiates the European hub apart from others in terms of marketing during a Routes Talks discussion

13:30 - Routes Asia Routes Talks insights...

As lunch takes place at Routes Asia we provide a quick overview of some of the material covered in this morning's Routes Talks sessions...

Stimulating success – VietJet Air helps to grow Vietnam market
Vietnam's low-cost carrier Vietjet Air is helping to stimulate the nation's air transport connectivity to position it as the fastest growing market across the region. With a low air travel presentation the opportunities for growth are extensive, Jay L Lingeswara, deputy director commercial, strategy and planning at VietJet Air told delegates in the first of today's Routes Talks sessions at Routes Asia.

Indian policy changes 'not enough to tackle capacity and fuel problems'
India is still failing to address capacity issues and high fuel prices despite a recent rethink of the country’s aviation policy. Speaking at a Routes Talks Focus on India, Mumbai International Airport CEO Rajeev Jain said the new Civil Aviation Policy has failed to address the fundamental problem of ensuring there is enough space for the country’s aviation sector.

Japan a “huge opportunity” for LCCs
Japanese low-cost carriers (LCCs) need to better understand the benefits of high-speed rail if they are to gain a firm foothold in the country’s aviation market, Cranfield University Centre for Air Transport Management Lecturer Dr Chikage Miyoshi said at a Focus on Japan Routes Talk presentation at Routes Asia.

Governments 'must balance protection and development'
Governments in Asia must find a way to “balance the protection of national carriers with developing the market”, according to a speaker at Routes Asia 2017. Alan Polivnick, a partner at Watson, Farley & Williams, warned that under some governments the whole aviation infrastructure is weighted towards certain carriers.

13:15 - Routes Asia Strategy Summit insights...

As delegates take a break from meetings on day two at Routes Asia we provide a quick re-cap of some of the key stories that came from yesterday's Strategy Summit...

Vistara ready for international launch in 2018, but capacity constraints could block growth
Indian full-service carrier Vistara hopes to take advantage to changes in air service regulations to launch international flights within the next year, its chief strategy and commercial officer, Sanjiv Kapoor, confirmed during a panel discussion at the Routes Asia Strategy Summit in Okinawa.

“The best alliances are those that operate under one brand,” says Jetstar network head
There are differing views over the value of alliances to the world’s airlines and an increasing view that traditional global airline groupings are no longer the best fit for the changing structure of the sector.

VietJet Air “yet to have concrete plan for long-haul” growth
The deputy director commercial, strategy and planning of Vietnamese low-cost carrier VietJet Air, Jay L Lingeswara has played down speculation that the airline is to acquire a small fleet of widebodied aircraft to launch long-haul flights. Speaking at the Routes Asia Strategy Summit in Okinawa, Japan earlier today he dismissed a quick launch date for the introduction of the flights, but confirmed it remains a short-term consideration.

Congested airports could influence Asian traffic growth
The Asian Pacific region is the most in danger of missing out on passenger growth thanks to its congested airports, said Vijay Poonoosamy, vice president international affairs in the office of the president and CEO of UAE carrier Etihad Airways.

Airports need to show loyalty to airline partners, says Condor executive
The truth, commitment and being prepared are the key qualities airlines look for in setting up new relationships with airports, Wilken Bellman, head of network development long haul, Thomas Cook - Condor told delegates at the Routes Asia 2017 Strategy Summit.

Airlines and airports warned to “expect the unexpected” in Asia
Geopolitical instability in Asia means that the aviation industry must be aware of sudden and dramatic changes, an expert has warned Routes Asia. Alan Polivnick, a partner at global law firm Watson, Farley & Williams, made the warning as part of his keynote presentation at the event’s Strategy Summit.

12:45 - governments must find the right balance

Governments in Asia must find a way to “balance the protection of national carriers with developing the market”, according to a speaker at Routes Asia 2018.

Read more >

11:50 - hop, Schiphol and jump!

In the aviation world competition is not only between airlines, but also between airports. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol was one of the first to actively promote its airport to passengers and airlines and is now the number three airport in Europe. Wilco Sweijen, director aviation marketing, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol highlighted what differentiates the European hub apart from others in terms of marketing during a Routes Talks discussion

“The world and the aviation world in particular is continuously changing; it is key to keep discovering new ways to increase your competitiveness,” he said, detailing insights on ways airports can be more competitive and to stand out from the competition.

11:10 - around the exhibition

A few of the best tweets from the exhibitioin at Routes Asia. Including a few selfies with our head of digital content Wes...

https://twitter.com/routesonline/status/843645189663014915

https://twitter.com/WesleyCharnock/status/843622859935178752

https://twitter.com/WesleyCharnock/status/843325994295427072

10:40 - Focus on India

This session will address the major issues in the fast-growth Indian aviation market.

"Current policies do not adequately address the lack of airport infrastructure in India. The policies should be sufficient to attract investors."

"Connectivity to an airport like Mumbai, where there are already capacity constraints, you cannot force aircraft upon the airport without creating further congestion."

Rajeev Jain,
CEO, Mumbai International Airport Pvt.

"At this point we are not looking to acquire smaller aircraft to serve regional markets."

"The reason airlines are not flying to smaller airports and destinations is that the routes are not economically viable. Ultimately the market decides."

"There is no desire for us to have a joint network. We need to do what makes sense for us."

"It's not just airside capacity where issues are arising. Sometimes you have airside capacity but no checking desks. Sometimes you have checking desks but no parking bays. In the past we've had to set up checking desks even though the airport has plenty of capacity .The long-term planning approach needs to be addressed - we shouldn't be having these teething problems."

Sanjiv Kapoor
Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer, Vistara

https://twitter.com/CarolynBurnett1/status/843637734761627649

09:45 - "LCCs - please come to Japan"

Low-cost carriers have been urged to take advantage of the "huge opportunities" in Japan.

Dr Chikage Miyoshi, Lecturer, Centre for Air Transport Management, Cranfield University, said that the Tokyo-dominated domestic market has been dominated by JAL and ANA and fresh airlines are needed.

"Low-cost carriers are gaining a foothold in the region, but sometimes they charge the same prices as JAL and ANA. We really need to have strong LCCs in this market totally independent from JAL and ANA," she said.

“LCCs in Asia – guys you have a huge opportunity here. Please come to Japan!"

https://twitter.com/CarolynBurnett1/status/843625357425049600

09:15 - VietJet Air stimulating success in Vietnam

Vietnam's low-cost carrier Vietjet Air is helping to stimulate the nation's air transport connectivity to position it as the fastest growing market across the region. With a low air travel presentation the opportunities for growth are extensive, Jay L Lingeswara, deputy director commercial, atrategy & planning at VietJet Air told delegates in the first of today's Routes Talks sessions at Routes Asia.

"We have a large and young population, a lengthy topography that lacks effective road and rail connectivity and a low travel penetration," he said, all conditions that are ripe for LCC growth. On an international scale that could include the introduction of flights into Australia in the future as VietJet Air welcomes the arrival of its first Airbus A321neo aircraft from the second half of this year.

08:30 - Brisbane looking forward to 2018

We caught up with Ashley Gordon and Toni Kasch from Brisbane, the hosts of Routes Asia 2018.

"We're absolutely delighted to be hosting the event next year," said Kasch. "Our mission is to host a fantastic event and to ensure all of the attendees build lasting relationships which will go on to foster network development in Australia and across Asia."

"Of course, the event is also a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our beautiful country and city as a destination - so come and join us next year!"

08:00 - day two gets underway

21:00 - full highlights from day one now online

https://spark.adobe.com/page/3JbxzGLn7koCt/

17:30 - the Strategy Summit ends

A fantastic first day here at Routes Asia. Look out for the full day's highlights on this blog later this evening, and remember to keep tweeting us using the #RoutesAsia hashtag

https://twitter.com/HannahBrewer23/status/843376661114437633

14:00 - live from the Strategy Summit

What do airlines really want to hear from airports? That's the subject of our next panel.

Finally Seb Mackinnon, Head of Airport Partnerships, Jetstar, takes the stage

"Our success is your success. We need the right platform, the right marketing and the right partnership."

"The right marketing needs to be a full team effort. We want airports, tourism authorities, local government, developers and hotel associations need to work together."

"It's very helpful when we hear from the origina and destination - cities coming together and providing us with a combined story."

"With regards to incentives it depends on the destination. There are some destinations where you need significant support, but even then marketing is vital - there is no point creating a route if you're not going to market it."

"Without marketing support you double the risk."

https://twitter.com/CarolynBurnett1/status/843371549881069568

https://twitter.com/CarolynBurnett1/status/843372764056641536

Second we have Rikke Munk Christensen Vice President Traffic Planning, Finnair

"Some cities can have millions of people, but only 10 per cent of the population has a passport - we need that information."

"80 per cent of our time is spent on our existing network, optimising etc."

"We need airports to know we have a small team. We don't have much time to analyse markets - we need you to bring information to us."

"We look at frequency optimisation, connections, seasonality, leisure planning and aircraft allocation - we want all of this information from you."

"We have a growth this year of more than 10 per cent. Many of the routes in Asia will be strong in summer but weak in winter - we need to find smaller routes to ensure the aircraft are flying all year round."

"An incentive for marketing support can be a deal breaker for long-haul. The £500,000 to £1m in marketing might be small compared to £150m to run a route. But the margins are small - it's about getting anything you can to make you feel comfortable as a business case."

https://twitter.com/CarolynBurnett1/status/843370292613341185

First up is Wilken Bellmann, Head of Network Development Long-Haul, Condor/Thomas Cook Airlines Group:

"Airports and tourism authorities should meet with hoteliers before they meet with us. We want to know there are enough hotel rooms at the right rates."

"We want you to be honest with us, and to be committed. Be honest with us about congestion bottlenecks."

"We want you to involve the tourism office, the government... we need the full picture."

https://twitter.com/HannahBrewer23/status/843375211223248896

"We want you to be prepared for the meeting. Don't ask us where we fly, you can find that out before the meeting. And if you don't know your own traffic numbers or how things run - that looks really bad."

"When it comes to marketing, irrespective of the type of destination the question is what you do with the money. It's always about money."

https://twitter.com/CarolynBurnett1/status/843369072712593408

Panel Session 2 - Can airports keep pace with demand? Airport Challenges - congestion, capacity and construction

"Existing constraints are to do with mindsets. We need to learn how to think outside of the box and innovate in tackling these challenges."

"The airlines have a role to play. We are a community of linked interests, and the better we can work together, the better the outcomes will be."

Vijay PoonoosamyVice President International Affairs, Office of the President & CEO, Etihad Airways

"Many of our facilities in Japan are under-utlilised. We need to consider how we can use this free capacity using privatisation."

Dr. Chikage Miyoshi,
Lecturer, Centre for Air Transport Management, Cranfield University

"Eight years of construction is a long time. The most important thing about our third runway is that we get it done on-budget and on-time."

"A smart airport is the only way to go when managing congestion. We are investing heavily in biometrics and we have set up a group to examine how airport technology needs to grow.

C K Ng
Executive Director, Airport Operations of Airport Authority, Hong Kong

https://twitter.com/CarolynBurnett1/status/843363821938909184

"Planning capacity is a tricky balance. Even if you are winning sometimes you can get too aggressive - there can be a winner's curse."

Chin Leong Teo,Director and Head, Traffic Development & Market Analysis, Consultancy, Changi Airports International

"Many of our facilities in Japan are under-utlilised. We need to consider how we can use this free capacity using privatisation."

Dr. Chikage Miyoshi,
Lecturer, Centre for Air Transport Management, Cranfield University

"Designing and planning capacity on a long-term vision that includes flexibility is extremely important. No-one knows what the traffic will be in 20 years."

Gregory Jamet
Corporate Executive Vice President CCO-Aeronautical, Kansai Airports

https://twitter.com/CarolynBurnett1/status/843361103304310784

"The biggest problem facing aviation growth in India is there are not enough airports. We need 50 new airports totalling $40bn of investment - and I can't see where that money will come from."

Rajeev JainCEO, Mumbai International Airport Pvt

"In the future we want passengers to be able to get to the airport and onto the flight without ever showing their passport. They should be able to do all stages of the check in process before leaving home. The technology available should make this possible, but we are a long way off because so many agenices are involved."

C K Ng
Executive Director, Airport Operations of Airport Authority, Hong Kong

"With the growth in traffic expected, one day slots challenges will come. Japan is a service culture, so we are working hard to ensure we have access to the right the technology to deal with any future capacity challenges."

Gregory Jamet
Corporate Executive Vice President CCO-Aeronautical, Kansai Airports

"In Mumbai, because of constraints, most of the flights are in the night. We want people to fly in India's day time, but it is helping us to deal with slots challenges."

Rajeev JainCEO, Mumbai International Airport Pvt

"Japan has a long tradition of long-term capacity planning. At Kansai we have two runways and are very far from saturation, so we can continue to plan."

Gregory JametCorporate Executive Vice President CCO-Aeronautical, Kansai Airports

"Airlines can diversify the number of airports they want to serve to handle slots and capacity challenges. We need to make the most of our scarce resources."

Dr. Chikage Miyoshi,
Lecturer, Centre for Air Transport Management, Cranfield University

"Slots are not straightforward. If you are targeting transfer or transit traffic the slots will naturally peak and trough. How we balance this is always a challenge."

Chin Leong Teo, Director and Head, Traffic Development & Market Analysis, Consultancy, Changi Airports International

https://twitter.com/CarolynBurnett1/status/843355711140651008

"The Asia Pacific region is expected to have the biggeest share of passengers lost or diverted at 33 per cent because of its 22 congested airports"

"All of those who benefit either directly or indirectly from aviation must do whatever it takes to ensure that we do not clip the wings of an industry that makes economies take off."

Vijay PoonoosamyVice President International Affairs, Office of the President & CEO, Etihad Airways

Keynote Presentation - How vulnerable are you to changes in government policies and to geopolitics?

Alan Polivnick, Partner, Watson, Farley & Williams

Airlines and airports warned to “expect the unexpected” in Asia

"There is massive potential in Myanmar. The government has learned very quickly that becoming a desired destination is a great advantage."

"If the missile situation in North Korea worsened, would we see the closure of airspace between China and the US?"

"Geopolitics is going to have a major impact on how low-cost carriers grow - there are going to be flashpoints."

Panel Session 1 - Airlines - trends, transition and changing models

"The shortage of slots and capacity in India is going to become a full-blown crisis within the next year."

Sanjiv Kapoor
Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer, Vistara

https://twitter.com/HannahBrewer23/status/843340275820838913

"The next five years will be interesting regarding long-haul low-cost. What happens in the next five years will determine what happens in the long-term future."

Jonathan HuttSocial Marketing Director, Spring Airlines

"I do not see a sustainable model for long-haul low cost."

Sanjiv Kapoor
Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer, Vistara

"Long-haul low cost is absolutely on our radar - but we need to find the right people to work with, whether this is an alliance or another carrier."

Jay L LingeswaraDeputy Director Commercial, Strategy and Planning, VietJetAir

https://twitter.com/routesonline/status/843338826479091713

"If a short haul route wasn't working we would give it up to 18 months and push harder. We're building markets - you have to take risks."

Ed SandersHead of Network & Schedule, Jetstar Airways

"A pilot shortage is absolutely a threat to continued growth in India."

Sanjiv Kapoor
Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer, Vistara

"To work with other carriers you must establish firm rules on what you do and don't work on together, and where the lines are drawn. There will be carriers llooking to collaborate, but it's not easy. You need a long-term divisions of power - for a full-service and an LCC to work together you need clear boundaries. "

Ed SandersHead of Network & Schedule, Jetstar Airways

"There is still value in full-service airlines - look at Delta. But if you're looking at the classic model of the full service carriers, those days are gone. The lines between carrier classes is blurring."

Sanjiv KapoorChief Strategy and Commercial Officer, Vistara

https://twitter.com/routesonline/status/843335719900741632

"We're interested in partnerships with other airlines - possibly in the Middle East. But it's all about trying to find the right partners"

Venggatarao Niadu
Head of Network Planning, AirAsia X

https://twitter.com/CarolynBurnett1/status/843332195653578752

"The best alliances are those which operate as one brand, offering customers the same service all the way from booking to in-flight. The future of travel in Asia Pacific is going to be owned by brands who can provide this. We are confident that we have built a strong proposition."

Ed SandersHead of Network & Schedule, Jetstar Airways

"Competition in Asia is getting tight - the price point will get tighter for airlines with the rise of low-cost carriers. There will be consolidaton or an alliance in the future.

Jay L LingeswaraDeputy Director Commercial, Strategy and Planning, VietJetAir

"Bi-laterals are going to be an issue that won't disappear overnight. But good airlines know how to understand the market, wait for the right opportunity and take it when it arises."

Jonathan HuttSocial Marketing Director, Spring Airlines

"Access to capital is still going to be a barrier to growth"

Ed SandersHead of Network & Schedule, Jetstar Airways

"Indian aviation has grown, but we're about to hit a brick wall unless something is done urgently. You can't add more flights to major cities such as Delhi and Bangalore. That's the elephant in the room."

Sanjiv KapoorChief Strategy and Commercial Officer, Vistara

"The growth figures from outbound tourism from China are astounding... what's really interesting for us long-term is developing connectivity from second and third-tier cities."

Jonathan HuttSocial Marketing Director, Spring Airlines

https://twitter.com/HannahBrewer23/status/843329231840976896

Our first panel - Airlines - Trends, Transition and Changing models - is responsible for 430 aircraft in total.

13:00 - Takeshi Onaga welcomes delegates to Okinawa

"We hope that Routes Asia will lead to new routes to Okinawa - we endeavour to make Okinawa a world-leading sightseeing destination."

Takeshi Onaga,The governor of Okinawa Prefecture

12:45 - opening ceremony marks the start of Routes Asia 2017

https://twitter.com/banthamed/status/843304470222069760

https://twitter.com/routesonline/status/843304151182336001

https://twitter.com/WesleyCharnock/status/843307452263104512

09:45 - Join us on Twitter

If you're heading to Routes Asia 2017 we'd love toi hear from you - share your pictures and stories using the hashtag #RoutesAsia or say hello at @RoutesOnline

https://twitter.com/WesleyCharnock/status/843273207075373056

08:00 - Live content overview

Routes Asia gets underway today, including the packed strategy summit. Here are some of the highlights of a packed live content programme at Routes Asia 2017.

https://www.slideshare.net/WesleyCharnock/ras17-live-content-presentati…

07:00 - What to expect at Routes Asia 2017

https://spark.adobe.com/page/YYhXpUYQsnpQG/

06:00 - Recent articles

As we prepare for day one at Routes Asia, we've brought together some of the pre-event articles which took place in the run-up to the event, giving you a flavour of what to expect.

HKIA addressing ‘urgent’ need for growth as Asian aviation expands
The huge surge in demand for flights across Asia is placing severe constraints on capacity. Ahead of his participation at Routes Asia HKIA director C K Ng outlines how he is aiming to ensure the airport keeps pace including its new £15bn third runway.

Asian aviation faces 'rising threat from instability'
Alan Polivnick, partner at international law firm Watson, Farley & Williams, warns that rising tensions in China, Japan and North Korea threaten to destabilise the aviation industry.

Infrastructure, regulation and aircraft - what the future holds for Asian aviation
Ahead of Routes Asia 2017 we spoke to Chin Leong Teo of Changi Airports International to hear his thoughts on the major challenges and opportunities facing aviation in the region.

Climbing up and up down under - Australian aviation on the rise
Growing international trade and improved connectivity are lifting Australia into the ascendant among the general rise of the Pacific nations.

Air India sees its summer growth opportunities in the stars
A new four times weekly Delhi – Copenhagen route will commence from May 2017, according to Air India, and will be flown using a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. A Delhi – Washington flight will operate on a three times weekly basis and will be flown using a Boeing 777 from July 2017. These will be the only non-stop operation on the two routes.

Iran continues to rise as a destination as air connectivity grows
The Iranian aviation industry is also undergoing significant change and earlier this month Iran Air took delivery of its first new Airbus A321. The airline has concluded deals with both Airbus and Boeing for more than 180 aircraft and is currently in the final stages of agreeing a deal with ATR for regional turboprops, albeit the first half dozen aircraft are already completed and ready for delivery.