Routes Americas outlines 2013 agenda

The sixth Routes Americas, held in association with ALTA, will take place on February 10th-12th 2013 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia hosted by Sociedad Aeroportuaria de la Costa.

The event, which is the annual gathering of air service decision makers for the entire Americas region, will bring together more than 350 delegates from airports, airlines, tourism authorities and other industry stakeholders from across the Americas to discuss air service development.

The event is expected to attract over 60 airlines from across the Americas and beyond and with over 35 carriers already registered to attend this figure is expected to rise further.

All four US network carriers; US Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and the world’s largest airline, United Airlines (who attended the event for the first time this year) have already confirmed that they will be in Colombia for the event along with the top low-cost carriers in the US (JetBlue, Southwest, and Spirit).

From elsewhere in the region registrations have so far included Volaris, COPA Airlines, Aeromexico and Colombia’s home carrier, Avianca-TACA.

Moreover, a strong presence from Canada looks likely with registrations confirmed from Air Canada, who will return to the event for the first time since 2009, and leading low cost carrier, WestJet which boast an extensive network into the Caribbean, have also confirmed their attendance and will also take meetings for their new subsidiary WestJet Encore whose initial schedule will be announced in January 2013.

Alaska Airlines and WestJet Encore have also confirmed that they will deliver a Route Exchange Airline Briefing during the event; these briefings will provide attending airports with a unique insight into the carrier’s planning process.

It is expected that further briefings will be confirmed over the coming weeks.

Routes Americas attracts senior key decision makers, from a variety of airlines, who are responsible for making decisions on both new and existing routes and the 2013 event looks set to see attendance from many senior airline delegates.