Routes Europe 2015 took place last month, where more than 1,200 delegates discussed where airlines would fly in the future.
One of the largest civil aviation events of the year, Routes Europe 2015 took place at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre in Scotland from April 12 to 14. It is the first time that the event was held in the UK.Routes Europe brought together 350 airports, 100 airlines and 45 tourism authorities as well as high-level policy-makers and aviation stakeholders to develop new air services to, from and within Europe. All of Europe’s major network and low-cost carriers attended as well as leading global airlines such as Etihad Airways and China Southern. Katie Bland, Director Routes, UBM EMEA, stated: 'The past 70 years of increasingly open skies have brought tremendous benefits to passengers, airlines and society at large. The high turnout at Routes Europe indicates that the aviation and tourism industries want to continue on this successful path. Increasingly the global economy is an aviation economy. Air services are the lifelines of a modern economy, and one of the biggest assets of a city or region.'The hard-hitting Strategy Summit brought together speakers from Europe and beyond to discuss the changing skies of Europe, and what the fast expansion of low-cost carriers and Gulf airlines mean for Europe’s legacy carriers. The focus of the debate on the future of air travel is currently on Europe. The continent’s response to the multiple challenges to its network carriers will shape the international air transport debate for years to come. Routes Middle East & Africa takes place in Bahrain from May 31 to April 2.***************************************************************************************************************************
Scotland eyes duty cutsScotland is looking at reducing air passenger duty (APD) by up to 50 per cent, giving Scotland’s airports and airlines a clear advantage over other regions.
Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland, said: “To be the first ever UK host of the Routes Europe conference is a real coup for Aberdeen and provides a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of the city’s tourism offering, as well as that of Scotland as a whole. If we want to continue attracting visitors to Scotland it is important we make it as easy as possible for them to get here. The conference is a chance for those within the industry to come together, and develop future business opportunities to, from and within Europe.”***************************************************************************************************************************