PRESS RELEASE: Routes Europe Officially Handed Over To 2025 Hosts

On the final day of the 2024 edition of the event, Aarhus Airport and VisitAarhus officially handed over the hosting responsibilities of Routes Europe to the Government of Spain, The Regional Ministry for Tourism, Culture and Sport of the Government of Andalucia, and Seville City Hall.

Routes Europe is held in varying venues and locations annually, bringing together key stakeholders from the route development community to drive air network growth across Europe and beyond. Airlines, airports, and tourism authorities are expected to take part in over 4,000 meetings at the 2025 edition of the event which will be influential in building high-value air service development partnerships.

Seville is recognised as a hub for tourism innovation and its efforts have allowed visitors to the city to remain practically unhindered by seasonality. Considered the fourth largest city in Spain, Sevilla Airport is crucial to the city’s thriving tourism industry, connecting to a total of 79 destinations served by 24 airlines.

The expansion project at Sevilla Airport allows the airport to serve 10 million passengers, increase services, and improve passenger experience. Connecting directly to a wide range of European destinations, the capital of Andalusia plans to communicate clear growth opportunities for new long-haul services. By hosting Routes Europe 2025, Seville will cement its position as a key gateway and an MRO capital of Southern Europe to the region’s leading airlines.

In its 2024 summer schedule, Sevilla Airport will welcome five new destinations served by three airlines including Ryanair services to Trieste, Birmingham, and Budapest. The Stockholm route will be served by Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and Maderia by Air Nostrum.

Miguel Sanz, Director General of Tourspain, Government of Spain, said: “The recovery of connectivity is essential for tourism. Spain has fully fulfilled this recovery with Europe and forecasts regarding air capabilities in 2024 are very good. Participation in Routes is a key alliance for Turespaña, which has been proven effective, not only in terms of data, but in the effort in the developing of new routes and capacities, thanks to the direct and fluid relationship between airports and destinations. From Turespaña we offer special support to the organization of this great event, in a destination with enormous potential for connectivity, such as Seville. Without any doubt, it will boost the attributes of this city in tourism and air services, and will strengthen the international leadership position of our country in quality services.”

Arturo Bernal, Regional Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport of the Government of Andalucía, said: “From the Government of Andalusia, we would like to express our gratitude to Routes Europe for the support and for choosing us. Seville is a reference in the aerospace sector at an international level, with the presence of important companies such as Airbus or the Aerospace Technology Park (Aeropolis), with more than ten thousand professionals linked directly or indirectly to this sector.”

Bernal added: “The growth of Seville airport is also an important aspect of improving Andalusia's connectivity, both domestic and international. The improvements being made in recent years will allow the airport's annual capacity to be increased to over ten million passengers, opening up new objectives for the future. The organization of an event such as Routes Europe 2025 will serve as an opportunity for Andalusia to show all its potential to all the professionals of the sector who will participate in this magnificent event.”

José Luis Sanz, Mayor of Sevilla, said: “Seville is a unique tourist attraction destination in Europe, connected with 21 countries and 82 airports, which links us with almost any destination in the world in just a little more than a stopover. Behind this there is a lot of work with the aim of continuing to improve Seville’s connectivity. The organization of an event like Routes Europe 2025 in our city is an honour and a responsibility. We have no doubt that it will be memorable and will position Seville at the highest level in the future of European air connectivity.”

By consistently uniting decision-makers from the European route development community, Routes Europe has made a real impact on the region's air services – over half of the region’s new routes are connected to meetings at the event. VPs and Heads of Network Planning from 90 of Europe’s leading carriers are expected to attend the event in Seville.

Steven Small, Director of Routes, said: “The development of new air connections has proven to contribute to economic growth and desirability of a destination. Hosting the 18th edition of Routes Europe will allow Seville to demonstrate the extensive potential of the destination and wider region to the region’s leading carriers, ultimately enhancing the number of air services and growing seat capacity to the destination. I am confident that the attractiveness of this dynamic city will support Seville’s objectives in the future.”