Route planners head to Marrakech

The host partnership of ONDA and ACI Africa will see the region being offered an unrivalled platform for airlines and airports to explore air service development opportunities within Africa and the Middle East. Especially in the current uncertain climate it is crucial that airlines and airports with interests into and within the region meet to consolidate and plan for the next upturn.

"African aviation continues to disappoint route development ambitions," explains Gordon Bevan, Principal Consultant at ASM, RDG’s consultancy arm. "The economic recession accounts for some of this disappointment; Africa performed fairly poorly according to IATA in April, down 7.1 for the month. For the year to date (to April), African demand for air travel fell by 9.7 percent with the airlines trimming capacity by 7.2 percent. This indicates that Africa is increasingly connected to global events."

It is the first time that Routes Africa incorporates the Middle East. Mike Howarth, Chairman of Routes highlights: "There is a strong link between the two regions. All major African economies have air service to the Gulf hubs, which are increasingly seen as either viable competition or replacements for European hubs such as London, Paris or Brussels. As an example, over 12 percent of Ugandan air capacity links Entebbe with either Abu Dhabi or Dubai; the number is 13 percent for Sudan."

He adds: "Regular meetings between all those involved in air transport in Africa and the Middle East are a significant key to the success of route development in the region. Routes Africa is undoubtedly the place for this to be done."

The event will once again follow the renowned Routes formula, with over three days of networking opportunities, scheduled meetings and a host of informal gathering. A special conference programme will see high-profile speakers including those from the Moroccan National Tourist Office, the Business Council UNWTO, AFRAA, and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. In addition there will be a talk on "Airport Marketing in Tough Times" by ASM Consultant Allison Brierley on the Sunday, where she will address the issues faced by airports specifically at times as economically turbulent as now.