Airliner World’s Barry Woods-Turner reports on the World Routes Development Forum, held this year in Barcelona.
MORE THAN 14,000 one-to-one meetings were held at this year’s World Routes Development Forum, which attracted 2,600 delegates and route development professionals from 110 countries, representing 260 airlines, 620 airports and 80 tourism authorities. As one delegate put it succinctly: “This is the place to be; everyone we need to talk to is here under one roof.” The annual event was held in Barcelona from September 24-26 at the Fira Gran Via, Europe’s second largest exhibition centre. Since the inaugural forum was held 23 years ago – 289 miles (465km) up the coast road in Cannes, France – the airline and airport event has grown out of all recognition.
