Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • Routes Europe hands over to Belfast for 2017

Aerospace

Routes Europe hands over to Belfast for 2017

Belfast - home to George Best Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport - will host Routes Europe 2017, led by Invest NI and Discover Belfast.

Above: (left to right) Radosław Włoszek, Acting President of the Board, Kraków Airport and Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive of Belfast City Council.

The official handover ceremony will take place later today. The ceremony will see Mr Pawel Galiak, commercial director of Kraków Airport present the Routes Trophy to Ms Suzanne Wylie, chief executive officer of Belfast City Council – thus officially handing over hosting duties to Belfast.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Next year's event will be held in Belfast’s Waterfront (above) in April 2017. This venue is Northern Ireland’s only purpose-built conference centre.

Belfast is the largest and capital city of Northern Ireland, home to two airports which help to make the city one of the most visited weekend destination in Europe. It is steeped in history, with the iconic Harland and Wolff cranes serving as a reminder of the shipyard that built the Titanic. When the choice of Belfast was made last year, Gerard Brown, Head of Future Hosting, Routes UBM EMEA said: “We are delighted to announce that Belfast will be our host city for the 12th Routes Europe in 2017. Delegates will be exposed to the business and tourism opportunities that exist in Northern Ireland and our hosts will have the opportunity to showcase the unprecedented £300m tourism infrastructure investment of recent years to the Routes community.

“To have our audience of over 1,200 of the European aviation industry’s most senior decision makers attend Routes Europe 2017 in Belfast will help to deliver on the ambitious air service targets within Northern Ireland’s economic growth strategy. Belfast has shown that it can deliver on world-class events and the Belfast partners demonstrated a highly unified and aligned approach in their bid to host the event. We look forward to working with them towards Routes Europe 2017 and are confident that our delegates will enjoy the unique and genuinely warm hospitality for which the city is renowned.”

Combined, George Best Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport welcomed 7,085,501 passengers in 2015. Both are experiencing considerable growth in the early months of this calendar year, and should expect more of the same following the announcement of the Air Route Development Fund. This fund will see up to £4 million being made available over the course of the next three years to support the development of new air routes for Northern Ireland; sure to be a hot topic at next year’s Routes Europe event.

Highlighting the Air Route Development Fund, Northern Ireland’s Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister, Jonathan Bell said: “I believe Northern Ireland would benefit economically from greater connectivity to a range of unserved short haul destinations within Europe, as well as greater long haul connectivity to Canada and the Middle East.”

In recent years, Belfast has revamped key areas of the city, including the Victoria Square shopping outlet and the venue for Routes Europe 2017, Waterfront Conference Centre. The centre was been transformed thanks to a £30 million extension and will be opened in summer 2016.

Katie Bland, Director of Routes, said: "There's never been a better time to invest in Northern Ireland. There is untapped potential in the Northern Ireland market that will appeal to the airlines, and I am confident that Routes Europe will have a long-term impact on its economy."

Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive of Belfast City Council, said: "I am delighted that Routes Europe will be hosted at our new Waterfront conference and exhibition centre. It is symbolic of the new Belfast and epitomises the city and its positive attributes - modern, outward looking, inviting and most of all, full of energy.

"Delegates can look forward to visiting a city that has recently been independently recognised as Europe's most business friendly city of its size and one of the top 10 places in the world to host a conference or major event.

"Belfast is a city transforming before our eyes, on the verge of capitalising on its enormous investment and tourism potential. Belfast is ready with a warm welcome for Routes Europe, we trust the delegates will be ready for us!"

Peter Harbinson, Executive Director, Communications at Invest Northern Ireland, said: "The Northern Ireland Executive is firmly committed to increasing Northern Ireland's direct air connectivity within Europe as a key driver to continuing to open opportunities for trade, investment and tourism.

"Hosting Routes Europe next year will provide an invaluable platform from which to showcase the region to key industry decision makers."

This is the first time the event will be hosted in Northern Ireland, home to less than two million people. The city of Belfast has become a huge tourist destination over the last decade, which is now home to HBO’s Game of Thrones. The HBO TV series Game of Thrones has helped to boost tourism by bringing some of the country's most stunning locations to the attention of a worldwide audience of millions. Partially filmed in Northern Ireland, Game of Thrones has acted as a catalyst for coach tours and sight-seeing trips for international fans of the programme.

Advertisement
Marshall RT

At the handover ceremony, Belfast will give a glimpse into what the city, and Northern Ireland as a whole, has to offer – ranging from world famous golf courses to a buzzing nightlife, and everything in between.

A lunch will be provided to show delegates some of the traditional Northern Irish cuisine that can be enjoyed at the next event, including wheaten bread and yellow man. In terms of entertainment, traditional Irish dancers will perform on stage.

Speaking to Routesonline yesterday during the air service development forum, Wylie said: “On behalf of my wonderful home city of Belfast, I’m very proud to officially accept hosting responsibility for next year’s Routes Europe Conference.

“Belfast today is full of ambition, optimism and above all energy. A great city, held back for too long, now looking forward and outward. We are renowned for our warmth, our friendliness and our sense of fun, so there is no better place to meet, do business and enjoy the ‘craic’! Team Belfast looks forward to welcoming you next April.”

A delegation from George Best Belfast City Airport has been in Poland to attend the Routes Europe 2016 before it arrives in Belfast in 2017. The Commercial and Marketing team from Belfast City Airport met with a number of airlines and airports at the conference, which comes to a close today, in order to establish and develop relationships with existing or potential partners. Katy Best, Commercial and Marketing Director at Belfast City Airport, said:

“Routes Europe is part of a wider series comprising Routes World, Routes Africa, Routes Americas, Routes Asia, and is the largest of the regional Routes events.

“It is without doubt one of the most important commercial aviation events of the year bringing influential aviation professionals from across the world all under one roof. It is an unrivalled forum for route development across Europe and an opportunity the Belfast City Airport team has taken full advantage of in recent years.

“This face to face time with the decision makers of airlines from across Europe is crucial for any airport looking to expand its current route offering and we have a lot of very exciting meetings scheduled with airlines for whom operations from Northern Ireland are highly viable.

“Historically, Belfast City Airport has focused on a strong UK domestic network, and we remain fully committed to our partner airlines who serve these important routes. However, our focus for new route development has taken us into mainland Europe, for which there has been great demand from our passengers and where we see most of our new opportunities coming from.

“Within the last year we launched a daily service to Amsterdam Schiphol and a five times weekly service to Brussels operated by KLM and Brussels Airlines respectively. As a small, compact terminal located just five minutes from Belfast City centre, we have a unique product which very much appeals to the blue-chip airlines and their passengers for whom service and convenience are key.”
 

 

Advertisement
General Atomics LB
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic CEOs to speak at Sustainable Skies World Summit 2024

Aerospace

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic CEOs to speak at Sustainable Skies World Summit 2024

28 March 2024

Aviation leaders Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic and Sean Doyle, CEO of British Airways as keynote speakers at the Sustainable Skies World Summit 2024.

Airframe Designs helps to lead additive manufacturing industry body

Aerospace

Airframe Designs helps to lead additive manufacturing industry body

27 March 2024

Airframe Designs has joined a national industry body to help lead the development of additive manufacturing and 3D printing in the UK.

Leonardo secures presence at Bahrain International Airshow

Aerospace Defence Events

Leonardo secures presence at Bahrain International Airshow

26 March 2024

Italian aerospace, defence and security firm, Leonardo has secured its presence at the Bahrain International Airshow for the seventh year.

Made Smarter and tech institutes to demystify digital transformation

Aerospace

Made Smarter and tech institutes to demystify digital transformation

26 March 2024

Made Smarter and leading technology demonstrators have joined forces to demystify digital transformation with a new white paper.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Britten-Norman secures new investment

Aerospace

Britten-Norman secures new investment

25 March 2024

Britten Norman has secured new investment from a group of investors led by 4D Capital Partners LLP (“4D”) The new investors are making funds available to Britten-Norman to fund working capital and to drive successful long-term growth.

First disability flying lessons to be launched at Kent airport

Aerospace

First disability flying lessons to be launched at Kent airport

25 March 2024

The UK’s disabled flying charity Aerobility has partnered with Lydd Aero Club in Kent to provide opportunities for lessons and experience flights for people living with disabilities, at Kent airport.

Advertisement
Advanced Navigation RT