The 9th Routes Africa, the largest route development event in Africa, will open this weekend in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
The event will bring together the leading airports, airlines, tourism authorities, policy-makers and aviation stakeholders to develop new air services to, from and within Africa. Hosted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, Routes Africa 2014 will take place at the Elephant Hills Hotel and Resort 22-24 June.
Over 350 delegates are expected to attend the event representing 40 leading airlines, 50 airports and 15 tourism authorities. Africa’s three main airlines Kenya Airways, South African Airways and Ethiopian Airlines are joined by two of the big Gulf carriers (Emirates and Etihad Airways) and global carriers such as British Airways, Iberia Airlines and Condor Airlines who are looking into expanding their network to the continent. Low cost carriers, which are increasingly shaping the face of aviation in Africa, will also be out in force with registrations received from pan-African low-cost carrier Fastjet as well as Comair, Fly540 and start-up carrier FlyAfrica.com.
One of the highlights of the event will be the Routes Africa Strategy Summit which, taking place over two days, will open the event on Sunday 22nd June. Attendees will hear from a number of high-level speakers, including Honourable Engineer Walter Mzembi (MP), Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Zimbabwe, Minister Fernando Maquengo, Minister of Transport and Public Works , Sao Tome and Principe, Dr. Elijah Chingosho, Secretary General of AFRAA, Raphael Kuuchi, IATA’s Vice President for Africa, Edmund Makona, Acting CEO, Air Zimbabwe, Christophe Allard, CEO, Korongo Airlines, Saxen van Coller, CEO, Dube TradePort Corporation and Richard Bodin, Chief Commercial Officer of Fastjet.
