2nd Annual Routes Leaders Forum confirmed for 2008

Following the acclaimed success of the inaugural Routes Leaders Forum 2007 the 2nd Annual Routes Leaders Forum: “Airlines and Airports Towards a Common Vision”, will take place on 12-14 October 2008 in the Convention Centre in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, alongside the 14th World Route Development Forum hosted by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad.

[UKPRwire, Thu Oct 04 2007] Following the acclaimed success of the inaugural Routes Leaders Forum 2007 the 2nd Annual Routes Leaders Forum: “Airlines and Airports Towards a Common Vision”, will take place on 12-14 October 2008 in the Convention Centre in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, alongside the 14th World Route Development Forum hosted by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad.

With an increased number of delegates expected in 2008, the Routes Leaders Forum has already established itself as a defining event that delivers senior aviation experts to challenge, discuss and deliberate the central developments and issues affecting the air transport industry.

“That over 250 senior executives from across the aviation sectors attended the inaugural forum clearly demonstrates the industry’s need for a platform that brings airlines and airports together with a common vision of collaboration to address the trends and challenges affecting our industry. The expert level of insight, debate and strengthening of commercial relationships that this forum achieved is a significant step forward in driving a climate for profitable and sustainable growth”, says Mike Howarth, Routes Chairman.

The inaugural Routes Leaders Forum subtitled “Airlines and Airports – Towards a Common Vision” featured panel discussions by leading executives on EU/US open skies, the dynamic growth of China and India, aviation and the environment, and the imminent move of the low-cost carriers into the long-haul sector.

Chaired by Professor Rigas Doganis, the global gathering of aviation experts included: guest chair Marie Ehrling; Willie Walsh, Chief Executive, British Airways; Azran Osman-Rani, Chief Executive Officer AirAsia X; Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline; Duncan Garrood, Commercial Director, BAA Ltd.; Alex Cruz, Chief Executive Officer, clickair; Dato’ Seri Bashir Ahmad Abdul Majid, Managing Director, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, and Justin Symonds, Global Head of Transportation & Logistics Sector Advisory, ABN AMRO and Kerrie Mather, CEO, Macquarie Airports.

It was co-located with the recently concluded 13th World Route Development Forum, the annual international event that brings together airlines, airports and suppliers to discuss and plan new air services worldwide. This year’s event, hosted by Stockholm-Arlanda Airport and the City of Stockholm, attracted over 2300 delegates from nearly 750 airports, 350 airlines, European Union Airport Coordinators, tourism authorities, and economic development agencies spanning more than 110 countries.

Lars Rekke, Director General, the LFV Group (Swedish Airports and Navigation Services), said: “It is of great importance for the aviation business to have a forum where we can discuss topical questions on the future of aviation. That the first Routes Leaders Forum is arranged here in Stockholm is, of course, an added pleasure.”

“The 2008 Routes Leaders Forum has already attracted considerable confirmed interest from speakers and delegates alike”, said Karin Holden, RDG Group Commercial Director. “Programme details will be announced in the near future, but as only the most relevant, topical issues will be addressed, the programme will be subject to continual review.”

ENDS


Notes to Editors:

Inaugural Routes Leaders Forum Participants:

Professor Rigas Doganis, Doganis & Associates, Conference Chair
Ms. Marie Ehrling, Guest Chair for EU/US Open Skies Session
Dr. Fariba Alamdari, Vice President Market & Value Analysis, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Mr. Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline & Managing Director of Sri Lankan Airlines
Mr. Alex Cruz, Chief Executive Officer, clickair
Dr. Mark Nicklas, Senior Negotiator, Directorate General for Energy and Transport, Internal Market, Air Transport Agreements and Multilateral Relations at the European Commission
Mr. Roger Gardner, Chief Executive Omega
Dr. Duncan Garrood, Commercial Director, BAA Ltd.
Mr. Kiran Kumar Grandhi, Chairman Airports, GMR Group
Mr. John Hanlon, Secretary General European Low Fares Airline Association
Mrs. Anita Mehra Homayoun, Vice President Marketing & Corporate Communications Department of Civil Aviation / Dubai International Airport
Dr. Paul Johnson, Director, Environmental Consulting, Arup Group
Mr. Paul Luijten, Senior Director Corporate Affairs, Schiphol Group
Dato’ Seri Bashir Ahmad Abdul Majid, Managing Director, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad
Ms. Kerrie Mather, CEO, Macquarie Airports & Executive Director Macquarie Bank
Mr. Bernard Miaillier, Head of DAS/SAS Business Division, Eurocontrol
Mrs. Harminder Rana, Executive Director Europe & UK, Air India
Mr. Azran Osman-Rani, Chief Executive Officer AirAsia X
Mr. Jacques Sabourin, Délégué Général de l’UAF
Mr. David Stroud, RDG Director & Managing Director ASM
Mr. Justin Symonds, Global Head of Transportation & Logistics Sector Advisory, ABN AMRO
Ms. Asa Torstensson, Swedish Minister of Communications
Mr. Willie Walsh, Chief Executive, British Airways Plc
Mr. Rong Hua Wang, Director General of the Department of Air Transportation of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China


About Routes www.routesonline.com

Routes organises and operates world-renowned airline and airport networking events through its Regional and World Route Development Forums. It is now part of the Route Development Group (RDG), a family of inter-related companies, strategic partners and associates that is the leading global force in the strategically important ‘route development’ sector of air transport. www.routedevgroup.com

The 14th World Route Development Forum 2008 will take place 12-14 October in the Convention Centre in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Previous World Route Development Forums occurred in Cannes, Abu Dhabi, Oslo, London, Rome, Amsterdam, Dublin, Athens, Edinburgh, Madrid, Copenhagen, Dubai and Stockholm. The 2009 and 2010 events will be held in Beijing and Vancouver respectively.

Region-specific events are: Routes Regional Europe, Routes Regional Asia, Routes Regional Africa and Routes Regional Americas.

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