“The almost 100 percent growth in airline delegates since World Routes in 2010 is testament to the Routes product and how it has evolved to meet the world’s largest airlines’ needs,” said Paul Winfield, airline relations director, World Route. “Moving ahead to Las Vegas, we expect to see more airlines confirm their presence.”
Co-hosted by Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and McCarran International Airport, the 2013 Routes marks the first time it will occur in the U.S.
“A year ago, we introduced Terminal 3, a $2.4 billion facility that showcases common-use passenger processing and self-service technologies. Pair those technologies with an expansive, 28-lane Customs and Border Protection area, and McCarran is poised and ready to welcome Routes delegates, the international tourism community and the World to fabulous Las Vegas and the U.S.,” said Rosemary Vassiliadis, director of aviation, McCarran International Airport.
Forum organizers have seen registrations from two airlines that have not attended World Routes for a number of years, namely Royal Jordanian, led by Director Fleet; Network Planning and Alliances; Basma Majali, and Virgin Australia, which will have Hope Antzoulatos, general manager of network planning, lead their planning team at the forum.
North American full-service carriers include United, Delta, American and US Airways. On the low-cost front, Southwest, JetBlue and Spirit will be in Las Vegas along with Allegiant, Sun Country, Alaska Airlines and Virgin America. From north of the border, Air Canada, Air Transat, WestJet and Sunwing will also be represented at the event. From Latin America, operators include LATAM, Avianca, Aeromexico and COPA Airlines.
Registrations were received from the big four Chinese carriers: China Southern, Hainan Airlines, Air China and China Eastern. ANA and JAL will be present from Japan. Other major operators confirmed from the Asia Pacific market include Vietnam Airlines, China Airlines, Thai Airways International and Philippine Airlines. Further registrations were received from Qantas and Jetstar from Australia.
From Europe, Air France will bring a significant presence to the event as will the Lufthansa Group, with British Airways, KLM, Alitalia and SAS amongst the other major airlines confirmed. European low-cost carrier presence comes from easyJet, Norwegian, Germanwings and Transavia while the Middle East contingent is led by Emirates, Etihad, Qatar and Oman Air.
More than 650 delegates representing over 500 airports have registered to date. This includes first-time attendees Raleigh – Durham International Airport, El Paso International Airport and Atlantic City International Airport. Other registrations include Abidjan International Airport (AERIA), Maastricht Aachen Airport, GMR Hyderabad International Airport, Donetsk International Airport, Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO), King Fahd International Airport and Aruba Airport Authority among many others.
