ROUTES EUROPE: Siim Kallas to Give Keynote Address at Routes Europe Strategy Forum

Routes Europe will open with the Strategy Forum on the afternoon of Sunday 20th May. Giving a valuable insight into aviation across the region, the programme will bring together high profile speakers in a combination of presentations and panel discussions addressing key route development issues affecting commercial aviation across Europe.

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 be moderated by Mr John Hanlon, Secretary General, ELFAA who will be joined by Mr Eric Herbane, Chairman of the European Airport Coordinators Association (EUACA) and other panelists to 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 Wojtek Prokopowicz , Modlin Airport; Mr Christian Le Borgne, Director of the Regional Centre, Veolia Transdev 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.