ROUTES EUROPE: Key Industry Issues to be Discussed in Strategy Forum

This afternoon’s Routes Europe Strategy Forum, which will mark the opening of formal proceedings at this year’s event, will attempt to highlight some of the key issues that are impacting the commercial aviation business across the entire European region. With a high profile list of speakers the content has been specially developed to provide a unique insight into the business with informed moderators ensuring the key issues are not glossed over.

The Forum will begin with keynote presentations from Mr Siim Kallas, Vice President European Commission responsible for transport.

The first panel discussion session - Eurozone Crisis; Recovery If & When? will focus on the impact of the Eurozone Crisis on air travel, how airline networks will change and which brands are at risk of disappearing. Panelist that will take part in this debate include: Mr Tero Taskila, President & CEO, Estonian Air; Mr Fernado Estrada, Strategy & Alliances Director, Vueling and Mr Kjartan Jonsson, Director Network Planning, Icelandair.

Session two, entitled Regulation, Pulling the Life Support will see Mr Eric Herbane, Chairman of the European Airport Coordinators Association (EUACA) and other panelists including Mr Markku Nokkala, Chief Network & Planning Officer, Oman Air and Mr Jeremy Robinson, Partner, Gates and Partners, who will discuss whether regulation will make the European airline industry unable to compete with the rest of the world; what the true impact of the ETS is; how the aviation industry can work with governments to encourage responsible taxation; and the details and implications of the new slot directive?

Airports for Sale, the third and final session of the afternoon, will be led by moderator Mr Mark Clarkson, VP Consulting Services, UBM Aviation, ASM and will draw on the expertise of Mr Wojciech Prokopowicz , Modlin Airport; Mr Christian Le Borgne, Director of the Regional Centre, Veolia Transdev, Mr Zafer Mese, Airline Marketing, Business Development & Investments Europe, TAV Airport Holdings Co. and other panelsits to explore whether now is a good time to be selling an airport and the importance of an airline deal.

The specially developed content and the interactive format ensures that the Forum is a popular element of the event. Open to all Routes Europe delegates it is expected to be a thought provoking and lively afternoon and promises to be a stimulating and enjoyable start to this year’s Routes Europe event.

Richard Maslen

Richard Maslen has travelled across the globe to report on developments in the aviation sector as airlines and airports have continued to evolve and…