Aeroports de Catalunya Announced as Host of World Routes 2017

Barcelona, December 5, 2014 (STAT):-It was announced today that Aeroports de Catalunya, Catalan Government’s state-owned company, will host World Routes, the 23rd World Route Development Forum in 2017. The announcement, which took place during a press conference at the Ministry of Territory and Sustainability of the Government of Catalonia, was attended by Santi Vila, Conseller de Territori i Sostenibilitat (Minister of Territory and Sustainability); Sònia Recasens, segona tinent d’alcalde de Barcelona (Second Deputy Mayor of Barcelona); Adrian Newton, Group Director Aviation & Technology for UBM Live and Gerard Brown, Head of Future Hosting, Routes and Airport Cities for UBM Live.

World Routes is the world’s largest commercial aviation event and the premier business to business aviation conference. The event consistently attracts over 3,000 senior level executives from the world’s airlines, airports, tourist boards, economic development agencies and governments from over 110 countries to discuss air service development opportunities. Hosting World Routes will bring network decision makers from the world’s airlines and from across the aviation industry to Barcelona and offers a unique opportunity for the city to showcase the opportunities it has to offer potential global airline partners.

In this regard, Minister of Territory and Sustainability, Santi Vila, said: “Holding World Routes will be a huge boost in making Barcelona airport the hub of Southern Europe. Our position on the map is a competitive advantage,” adding: “It will be a magnificent platform for the economic promotion of the city, of Catalonia and, above all, of its businesses which are involved in the process of internationalisation and conquering foreign markets”. For her part, Second Deputy Mayor of Barcelona, Sònia Recasens, highlighted that: “In the present context, the World Route Development Forum is a privileged setting in which to position Barcelona as an international air service hub and worldwide benchmark in attracting conferences and major events, which adds to our objective of increasing the city’s economic activity in the public interest”.

“We are absolutely thrilled that World Routes will be hosted in Barcelona in September 2017,” commented Adrian Newton, continuing: “Barcelona is one of the top three congress cities in the world, one of the world’s top ranking leisure tourism cities, the 5th O&D city in Europe, served by Barcelona El Prat Airport - a top 10 European airport that has experienced high growth in recent years. Barcelona is also home to one of the world’s busiest cruise ports and has a thriving economy – with Catalonia responsible for more than 18% of Spanish GDP and 26% of Spanish exports. It therefore is a highly appealing host city for World Routes and the aviation decision makers that it attracts from over 110 countries. We are really looking forward to working with the Host team and their partners over the next few years”.