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Regional industry leaders attended the inaugural air service development event in the Kingdom of Bahrain
Manama - Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) the managing body and operator of Bahrain International Airport (BIA) hosted the inaugural Routes Middle East & Africa 2015 forum that opened on Sunday May 31stin the Kingdom of Bahrain. Being held under the patronage of His Excellency Engineer Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, the event took place at the Gulf Convention and Exhibition Center and was concluded on June 2nd.
Designed to build on the success of Routes Africa 2014 Routes Middle East & Africa brought together over 300 delegates from across Africa and the Middle East to meet and discuss route development opportunities across the region.
Commenting on the significance of this event to the local aviation industry, H.E.Engineer Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, stated that "this event comes at a crucial time for the aviation industry in the Kingdom of Bahrain. We introduced a new civil aviation law and regulations in 2013, we have invested significantly in technology and systems across our operations, and we have just embarked on an ambitious modernisation program for the passenger terminal building at the Bahrain International Airport. This large-scale project is driven by the demand and fast growing economic development that Bahrain has witnessed over the past few years, and is evidence of the commitment we have to developing our aviation industry infrastructure to sustainably serve the needs of the future. The Kingdom is set to invest around $22 billion in key infrastructure projects over the coming years, across a range of sectors including transport, manufacturing, and energy. These factors combined provide a compelling context within which this forum is being held".
The event had seen representation from almost 50 airlines and over 70 airports along with tourism authorities and other industry stakeholders from across the region. All the major Middle Eastern carriers were in attendance including Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Gulf Air along with a strong representation from African carriers such as Egyptair, Ethiopian Airlines and South African Airways. In addition several out of region carriers were also in attendance including British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air and Vueling.
"It's a privilege to be hosting the first edition of Routes MEA in the Kingdom of Bahrain both for BAC and the country as a whole. We are extremely pleased with the turnoutfrom the regional aviation community and we have no doubt of the prospects this forum holds for all attending airports, airlines and industry stakeholders", commented Mr. Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, Chief Executive Officer at Bahrain Airport Company."On a national level, hosting of Routes MEA in Bahrain has the potential to fuel business activity in the local tourism and aviation sectors as we seek to attract new airlines to set up roots at BIA. We have a series of one-on-one meetings lined up where we hope toshowcase BIA's strengths as a competitive air Hub in the region and draw in more international carriers to support our route development strategy. Our overriding objective is to boost air access and capacity at BIA, expandour destination portfolio globally, build traffic and subsequently increase revenues."
"We are delighted to be holding the inaugural Routes Middle East and Africa in Bahrain," said Adrian Newton, Group Director Aviation & Technology, UBM EMEA: "Africa and the Middle East are two of the most dynamic aviation markets in the world and this event hasbrought the wider aviation community to the Kingdom of Bahrain providing our Hosts with the ideal opportunity to showcase their destination, and reaffirm their status as an aviation hub for the region. The decisions taken at Routes Middle East & Africa will be decisive in shaping the future of aviation in the region for years to come."
In addition to around 1,000 face-to-face meetings to discuss air services taking place at the event, Routes Middle East & Africa opened with the hard hitting Strategy Summit, which included a welcome address from H.E. Engineer Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications for the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Taking place over two days, the Summit provided a valuable insight into aviation across the region through a series of moderator-led panel discussions and presentations. Speakers from across Africa and the Middle East include; Adel Ali, CEO of Air Arabia; Paul Byrne, CEO of Flynas; Dr. Elijah Chingosho, Secretary General of AFRAA; Richard Bodin, Chief Commercial Officer of Fastjetand Mohamed Khonji, Regional Director, Middle East Office, ICAO.
"An exclusive list of aviation experts lined up to shed light on very current topics affecting our industry in general and our region in specific", further commented Mr. Al Binfalah. "The discussions that took place during the Strategy Summit are essential in keeping the region's aviation community informed on industry trends, and have great potential to positively influence aviation progress and advancement in this part of the world, considered to be a central pivot of movement for people and goods", concluded Mr. Al Binfalah.
For more information on Routes Middle East & Africa, please visit our website.
BAC is the authority responsible for operating and managing Bahrain International Airport as a world-class airport. As part of its operator role, BAC is responsible for elevating the airport's infrastructure and services. This set to improve the Kingdom's aviation capabilities; and to cater for the growing number of passengers as well as the changing demands of the airport's stakeholders.
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About Bahrain Airport Company (BAC)
Bahrain Airport Company is a semi-government company established in 2008 to operate, manage, and develop Bahrain International Airport as sustainable and commercially competitive airport. Driven by a clear vision to provide a friendly and efficient airport for a proud country, BAC has been responsible for elevating the airport's infrastructure, facilities and services and sustaining operational and commercial excellence, for the benefit of travellers and stakeholders alike.
BAC plays a central role in facilitating the growth of tourism and aviation sectors in line with the Kingdom's Economic Vision by continuously seeking for lucrative opportunities to optimize BIA's revenue streams through a mix of aeronautical and non-aeronautical activities that will ultimately increase BIA's profitability and solidifying its status as an attractive aviation hub in the region.
For more information please contact:
Afrah Faraj, Corporate Communications, Bahrain Airport Company
Tel: (+973) 17353261;
Email: Corporate.Communications@bac.bh ;
Website: www.bahrainairport.com
Twitter: @BahrainAirport;
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bahrain.Airport;
Flickr: www.flickr.com/bahrainairport/
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. 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. www.asm‐global.com. Routes and ASM are part of the UBM EMEA division of UBM plc.
• UBM EMEA 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 EMEA 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.
For further press information please contact:
Victoria Jones
Communications Manager
Routes
T: +44 (0) 161 234 2730
E: pr@routesonline.com
Follow us on twitter: @Routesonline, @TheHUBRoutes, @VictoriaRoutes, @NLPROU, @airlineroute
About UBM plc
• UBM plc is a global events-led marketing services and communications company. We help businesses do business, bringing the world's buyers and sellers together at events and online, as well as producing and distributing news and specialist content. Our 5,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into expert teams which serve commercial and professional communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.
• For more information, go to www.ubm.com; follow us on Twitter at @UBM_plc to get the latest UBM corporate news; follow @UBM for news from all UBM's businesses; follow @UBM for a flavour of UBM from selected members of UBM's Twitterati.
© Press Release 2015
