Largest Asian Route Development Event Ever to Open in Mumbai

MANCHESTER, England, March 14, 2013 /CNW/ - Record numbers register to attend Routes Asia, hosted by GVK Chhatrapati Shivaji Interational Airport, Mumbai

In just three days time the 11^th Routes Asia event will take place in Mumbai, India.  The event will be hosted by GVK's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) which is managed by Mumbai International Airport Pvt. Ltd. (MIAL), at the Renaissance Mumbai Hotel & Convention Centre which is one of the largest convention centres in the city.

Almost 160 airline delegates representing 88 airlines will be represented at Routes Asia, which will take place from 17-19 March.  This year will also see more airports represented at the event than in previous years with 257 currently listed.  This record participation for any pan-Asian route development event highlights the continuous demand for new air links across Asia and the fast-growing ties between Asian nations.

Airlines such as Air India, Jet Airways, Spicejet and IndiGo will attend with very senior delegations along with Air India Express and JetLite.  The Low Cost sector will also be well represented with attendance from Jetstar Airways, LionAir, The AirAsia Group and Tiger Airways along with major carriers Qantas, Malaysia Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Etihad and Japan Airlines.  The event also promises a large Chinese presence with Air China, Shenzhen Airlines, Hainan Airlines, China Eastern and China Southern Airlines all registered to attend.  Other carriers who have signed up for the Indian event recently include Singapore Airlines, Silk Air, GoAir and Qatar Airways.

"We will have a record attendance at Routes Asia in Mumbai," said David Stroud, Executive Vice President, Routes explaining:  "Airlines from around the globe are looking for ways to expand into the Indian market and Routes Asia in Mumbai will see attendance by airports and airlines from across Asia as well as representation from the Middle East, Europe and the US.  We are looking forward to welcoming the wider aviation community to Mumbai where they will have ample opportunity to discuss the future of the industry within Asia."

Sanjay Reddy, Managing Director, Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd said:  "As the countdown to Routes Asia 2013 begins, we are excited with the overwhelming response and look forward to the opportunity to showcase all that Mumbai and GVK CSIA have to offer to both domestic and international visitors. Over the next few days, delegates from across the world including a varied mix of business leaders & marketing heads representing some of the region's biggest airlines and airports, industry experts and commentators will discuss opportunities for airline route development. The forum this year has attracted a diverse group who we strongly feel will appreciate the market opportunities and investment attractiveness associated with GVK CSIA as a host airport"

Taking place on Sunday 17^thMarch 2013, the Routes Asia Strategy Summit will open the event and will address issues affecting aviation and route development across the region.  Panels of leading industry experts will take part in a number of moderator led discussions such as Developing Hubs in Asia and Chasing the Tiger and the Dragon, which will look the fast-growing outbound travel markets for China and India and Where next for Asian Low Cost Carriers? which will look at this rapidly evolving segment of the Asian aviation market.

High level delegates involved in the panel sessions include, amongst many others, Aditya Ghosh, President of IndiGo, Neil Mills, CEO of Spicejet, Deepak Brara, Commercial Director of Air India, Rajeev Jain, CEO of Mumbai International Airport, VP Agrawal, Chairman of Airport Authority of India, Germal Singh, SVP of Government & International Affairs for Malaysia Airlines and Venggataroa Niadu, Head of Network for AirAsia X.

In addition to the Strategy Summit and the Face-to-Face meetings taking place at the event, this year's Route Exchange programme will see senior network planners from four carriers deliver an overview of their route development opportunities and how airports can be part of their airline expansion.  The carriers delivering briefings, which are open to all attending airports, are Qantas, Jet Airways, Saudi Airlines Cargo and MEGA Maldives.  Additional content will be provided by Tourism Australia and Singapore Tourism Board who will both deliver a destination briefing whilst in Mumbai.

Notes to Editors

About Routes

• Routes organises world-renowned airline and airport networking events through its regional and global Route Development Forums. Each year, there is one global event and one regional event in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and CIS respectively. http://www.routesonline.com
  
  
• Routes was founded in 1995 as part of the Manchester UK-based ASM Ltd., a consultancy specialising in the field of route development for airports. http://www.asm-global.com
  
  
• Routes and ASM were acquired by UBM Aviation Worldwide Ltd in August 2010.  From 1^stAugust 2012 Routes, ASM and the Airport Cities Conference and Exhibition become part of the UBM Live division of UBM plc.
  
  
• UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote their brands and expand their markets.  Through premiere brands such as MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show, the Routes portfolio of events, Airport Cities and many others, UBM Live exhibitions, conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies across more than 20 industry sectors. http://www.ubmlive.com

Follow us on twitter: @Routesonline, @TheHUBRoutes, @VictoriaRoutes, @NLPROU, @airlineroute

SOURCE: UBM Aviation Routes Ltd