A mix of existing and new airline partners officially signed-up to serve the fast-expanding Chinese gateway during a behind closed doors meeting on the opening day of business at World Routes and it is our understanding that there is more news to follow, with at least one other airline set to announce its expansion into Chengdu in the coming days.
The World Routes Strategy Summit highlighted some of the most interesting aspects of aviation across the globe as more than a dozen high-profile speakers debated some of the key topics impacting the aviation business.
While it might seem from the outside that nothing has changed, Malaysia Airlines has been completely reborn as a business over the last 18 months. Now, the carrier is planning a growth trajectory across south-east Asia under the stewardship of former Ryanair executive, Peter Bellew.
The hotly-anticipated World Routes 2016 began today, gathering thousands of key personnel from the aviation industry for three days of meetings, networking, con
Looking longer-term, Birmingham Airport is in a unique position as in ten years’ time it will become the UK’s only HS2 connected airport, growing the catchment into London with high-speed trains serving Birmingham from the capital in around 30 minutes.
Speaking at World Routes in Chengdu, our panel of experts took a look at the opportunities and challenges that are being faced in the growth of the Chinese market, what does the growth of this market mean, as well as a brief overview of the impact of the Brexit referendum.
Speaking at the Strategy Summit at World Routes in Chengdu, Steve King, CEO of Black Swan talked the audience through artificial intelligence and the impact it is having on today’s travellers.
World Routes provides tourism authorities with an efficient and convenient platform from which to engage with key decision makers from the world’s leading airlines and expand their route network.
Ras Al Khaimah may have not followed the same journey as some of its sister emirates in the UAE, but it has been on a growth trajectory. Not being a producer of oil, it has already developed a diversified economy focused on its industrial sector and is emerging as a new destination on tourism maps with new investment and developments along its coast line.
The Marseille Provence Airport team is in Chengdu at this year’s World Routes eyeing destinations across the North and eastern part of Europe and an expansion of flights to long-haul markets as potential targets. They are already excited about growth in 2017 after a strong 2016 that has already delivered 17 new scheduled routes.
Tibet Airlines revealed at World Routes that it will introduce a daily link from Sanya, the Chinese beach resort in Hainan province, via Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province and host city for the route development forum, to the Black Sea resort of Sochi in Russia from next year.
On Tuesday 27th September at 9am in the Routes Talks session at World Routes in Chengdu, Omar Hashmi, Consultant at ASM will be asking ‘Are the sizes of indirect markets driving airlines' new route decisions?’
At last night’s Saturday reception, the informal opening to this year’s World Routes in Chengdu, China, Andre Van Den Berg, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport highlighted how from modest roots the facility has grown to welcome over 58 million passengers annually, with 1.6 million tonnes of cargo passing through, and where 65,000 people come to work every day.
Attending this year's World Routes in Chengdu, China with a five strong team, Edinburgh Airport are at the 22nd World Route Development Forum with the aim of attracting new airlines and selling Scotland to the world. But, above all they plan to use the event to reinforce a strategy to secure future direct connectivity between Scotland's capital city and China's growing gateways.
As delegates were still arriving in Chengdu and while early arrivals were taking advantage of the complimentary tours and excursions that have been offered to delegates, hundreds of staff were working hard to ensure all the stands are completed ahead of the formal opening of the event. We took a quick walk around the exhibition halls during the build stage as this work was progressing.
The year started optimistically with record low fuel prices and strong consumer demand, however a number of terrorist attacks, the UK Brexit referendum shock, an impending Chinese economy slowdown and the US election marathon, all appear to be taking their toll on the global aviation market.
Boeing predicts China will need 5,110 new single-aisle aircraft through 2035, accounting for 75 percent of the total new deliveries. Low-cost carriers and full-service airlines have been adding jets and expanding new point-to-point services to cater for both leisure and business travel demand from a rising middle class in China and throughout Asia.
Chengdu’s increasing accessibility and dynamic economy have ensured that it is now recognised as a leading centre for foreign investment and development. Tax and investment incentives for foreign firms, together with low labour costs and high growth markets, have equipped Chengdu with a competitive edge to rival its coastal counterparts Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport currently ranks as the fourth largest aviation hub in mainland China and significant new route additions since it hosted Routes Asia in 2012 have included a direct British Airways link to London Heathrow, a Qatar Airways service to Doha, and a first direct flight to the United States with a United Airlines operation to San Francisco.
The 22nd annual World Routes forum will take place on 24 – 27 September. The city, which is the home of the giant panda, will see more than 3000 delegates in attendance at the weekend.
