The 15th World Route Development Forum, hosted by Beijing Capital International Airport, was held between 13-15 September 2009 in Beijing. The theme of this forum was “Linking the World”. According to organizer’s statistics this year registered record participation, reaching nearly 3,000 delegates from 120 countries, 200 airlines, 500 airports, 50 tourism and trade organizations, 10 international organizations and 100 aviation suppliers.
In the background of economic depression and pessimistic situation of world aviation industry, this forum offered a unique platform and opportunity to discuss the development of aviation industry and especially provided the airlines and airports the match making of potential market opportunities for the future development.
This Routes event provided occasion to meet with airline network planners from around the World. During the 2 days event, Macau International Airport talked with more than 20 airlines from existing and potential markets, to present data and offer opportunities to develop more frequencies or new routes and new destinations. There were also some meetings with airports from Mainland and Australia to discuss the opportunities to jointly support the development of routes with Macau.
With Mainland Chinese visitors accounting for almost half of the total visitor arrivals in Macau, Macau International Airport took the opportunity to schedule meetings with the main Chinese airlines in an effort to obtain more direct flights to Macau and from more cities. Several possible routes were discussed and opportunities were identified that will be further studied for implementation in the near future.
Meetings were also pre-arranged with airlines from target markets, namely from India, Japan and Russia to update on Macau latest developments and sharing the statistics of their country visitors to Macau, with the aim to initiate studies and work for route development. Follow up work will continue with some airlines that revealed interest in deepening the route analysis.
Macau airport also initiated some exploratory contacts at meetings with some long haul carriers operating from Europe, namely those operating at the Helsinki emerging hub and using the shorter route to Asia through the North Pole, making the case of offering a high end destination with new leisure/entertainment attraction and further en route travelling to exotic Asian or cultural Chinese cities with the airport established connections, while avoiding competition with other airlines from other hubs competing for the routes to Hong Kong. Response of the European carriers was positive showing interest to look into further data and information.
With the support given by MGTO and its representatives in Beijing, a promotional booth was jointly set up by CAM and MGTO at the Networking Village of the event venue where the Forum participants had access to Macau International Airport´s latest services and facilities. It also provided a good opportunity for them to know more about the charm and the exciting activities happening in Macau. The distribution of souvenirs at the stand helped attracting participants to visit our stand asking questions about the airport and the city of Macau.
To maximize the on-site marketing opportunities, CAM organized daily lucky draw activity at our exhibition stand, which attracted large numbers of delegates from airlines, airports and other entities dropping name cards to enter the lucky draws. A special thankfulness is extended to MGM Grand Macau, Venetian Macao Resort Hotel and City of Dreams for their contributions for the lucky draw sessions by offering hotel rooms and SPA treatments at their facilities.
CAM was approached by media at Macau stand, namely by CAAC Journal and TTG for interviews, which were received by CAM Executive Director, Ms. Suning Liu.
Ms. Liu Suning, was also invited to participate in the Global Strategy Summit 2009, a leaders Conference held together with the 15th World Routes Development Forum. Issues like Civil Aviation Today, Can Global Air Transport Resume Growth and others related to technology, safety & security, environmental and future trends were on the agenda.
The CAM delegation attending the 15th World Route Development Forum 2009 in Beijing included Ms. Suning Liu–Executive Director, Mr. Antonio Rato-Senior Assistant to the Chairman and Director of Marketing, Mr. Eric Fong, Ms. Elizabeth Cheong and Ms. Patricia Au, Managers of Marketing Department and Ms. Karen Chan - Assistant to Executive Director. Besides, Mr. William Wong, Representative of Tourism also joined with us to promote Macau to participates.
More information about Routes Development Forum: www.routesonline.com
Photo taken at the exhibition stand of the CAM team and Macau Government Tourist Office Representative in Beijing
Ms. Suning Liu (middle) presented prizes to one of the winners of the lucky draw session