Aberdeen Announced as Host of Routes Europe 2015

Manchester, England (ots/PRNewswire) -

10th Routes Europe to take place in Scotland marking the first
time the event has been held in the UK

It was announced today that Aberdeen City and Shire will host
Routes Europe 2015. The announcement, which took place during a press
conference at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC),
where the event will be held from 12-14 April 2015, was attended by
Cllr Barney Crockett, Leader of the Council, Aberdeen City Council;
Dawn Schultz, City Promotions Manager Economic & Business
Development, Aberdeen City Council; Cllr Peter Argyle- Chair of the
Infrastructure Services Committee Aberdeenshire Council; Brian
Horsburgh, Managing Director, Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference
Centre; Maya Rousen, Project Manager, Scottish Enterprise; Martin
Ritchie, Aviation Officer, Transport Scotland; Steve Harris, Chief
Executive, VisitAberdeen; Shona Anderson, Regional Director,
VisitScotland; David Stroud, Executive Vice President of Routes and
Katie Bland, Future Hosts Director for Routes.

Routes Europe is the region's largest route development forum and
enables the aviation industry's decision makers from across Europe to
examine air services, discuss new market opportunities and
developments and get up to speed on potential new destinations.

The announcement of Aberdeen as the Host destination for Routes
Europe 2015 represents the culmination of a successful bid to host
the event which was initiated by Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ)
in which all of the region's key stakeholders were involved in
supporting the proposal. These stakeholders include: Aberdeen City
Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels
Association, Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future, AECC, Aberdeen
International Airport, National Trust for Scotland, Scottish
Enterprise, Travel Scotland, VisitAberdeen, VisitScotland Business
Tourism Unit and VisitScotland.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "The Scottish
Government is working to secure more direct international flights
from Scotland and hosting events such as Routes Europe supports this
ambition. This event is a great opportunity to showcase the
continuing strength of the economy of the North-East and the dynamic
nature of Aberdeen International Airport as one of the fastest
growing airports in the UK. It is also an opportunity to showcase
what Scotland as a whole has to offer airline operators, namely an
ambitious, forward-looking country keen to do business with our
international neighbours."

Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Services
Committee, Peter Argyle, commented: "Bringing this significant
tourism event to the North-East is an excellent achievement, and
another demonstration that local authorities and their partners are
working hard to make the most of what the area has to offer. It is
another chance to highlight to those in the travel trade and airline
industry just what we have to offer in this area and try to secure
even more of the global tourism market. We hope that one of the
outcomes will be increased flights and routes to and from Aberdeen
International Airport, with one of the major benefits being increased
visitors to the region."

"Aberdeen is one of the very few cities in Europe showing
sustained year on year growth," said Steve Harris, Chief Executive of
VisitAberdeen, he continued: "To have 1000 of the European aviation
industry's most senior decision makers coming here, to see not only
our vibrant economy but our historic city and fabulous countryside,
is a wonderful opportunity. We will be able to demonstrate to
airlines the business opportunities that links with Aberdeen could
bring them and any new routes that we can gain as a result will
benefit us all and further strengthen our industries."

Carol Benzie is the Airport's Commercial Director. She said:
"Securing Routes Europe in 2015 is a major achievement for everyone
involved. The profile that this conference will bring to the region
is hard to over-state. The event brings airlines and industry leaders
from around the globe to the City and will ensure that the delegates
get a chance to see what the wider region has to offer." Ms Benzie
went on to say: "Our ability to host major events and showcase our
area will be one of the key outcomes of Routes Europe in 2015, and
will provide a lasting legacy within the industry. As a team, we are
very much looking forward to playing our part in what will be a
milestone event."

Council leader Barney Crockett said: "Routes Europe is quite
simply the most prestigious and significant conference in its class.
As the beating heart of Europe's oil and gas economy, Aberdeen has
taken a big step forward onto the travel and tourism industry stage
in attracting this huge travel event. Part of the attraction of the
City has clearly been the Team Aberdeen approach and I thank all of
our partners. The Airport plays a central role in our economy and I
believe the conference opens a way to extend Aberdeen's offer of air
travel."

Aberdeen is the gateway to Scotland's castle and whisky country.
Scotland's Castle trail runs through the heart of Aberdeenshire and
the region is home to 13 of the world's most unique castles. Aberdeen
is also known as 'the Granite City', named for its sparkling
buildings, built from locally quarried grey granite, and elegant
architecture. The city's old town, Old Aberdeen, dates back to the
1400s and is home to the oldest granite cathedral in the world, St
Machar's Cathedral. The City, which is home to around 250,000
inhabitants, is within 15 minutes of the stunning countryside which
surrounds Aberdeen and is also the capital of the Grampian Highlands
with the majestic Grampian Mountains dominating the skyline to the
west and miles of unspoiled coastline to the east.

"We are delighted to announce that Aberdeen will be our host city
for the 10th Routes Europe in 2015. Delegates will experience the
economically vibrant region of the North-East of Scotland and the
myriad of business and leisure opportunities on offer," commented
David Stroud, Executive Vice President for Routes, who went on to
say: "Aberdeen International Airport is already well connected across
Europe and will allow easy access for delegates. Routes Europe has
experienced substantial year on year growth and the AECC will offer
plenty of scope for further growth in 2015. The Aberdeen partners
demonstrated a highly unified and aligned approach in their bid to
host the event and we look forward to working with Team Aberdeen
towards Routes Europe 2015 to further develop air service into ABZ."

Aberdeen provides a great example of the interconnection between
air connectivity and economic growth. Aberdeen International Airport
operates over 80 daily scheduled routes and recently went through a
runway extension allowing for new international and national flights
into the city. Over 60% of the Airport's passenger traffic is
business traffic predominantly driven by the energy industry and the
airport also has one of the biggest commercial helicopter operations
in the world, carrying over 500,000 passengers per year. Improving
international air connectivity continues to be a key area for the
development of Scotland's globally competitive business environment
and Routes Europe is an ideal opportunity for Scotland to showcase
its economic development potential and the opportunities that exist
for the development of new air links to Europe. With daily services
to many regional destinations, such as London Heathrow, Paris Charles
de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol, Copenhagen and Frankfurt, Aberdeen
International Airport provides the highest level of hub connectivity
of any UK regional airport.

Notes to Editors

About Routes

- Routes organises world-renowned airline and airport networking events
through its regional and global Route Development Forums. Each year, there is one
global event and one regional event in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and CIS
respectively. http://www.routesonline.com
- Routes was founded in 1995 as part of the Manchester UK-based ASM Ltd., a
consultancy specialising in the field of route development for airports.
http://www.asm-global.com
- Routes and ASM were acquired by UBM Aviation Worldwide Ltd in August 2010.
From 1st August 2012 Routes, ASM and the Airport Cities Conference and Exhibition
become part of the UBM Live division of UBM plc.
- UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across five
continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote their
brands and expand their markets. Through premiere brands such as MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC,
TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show, the Routes portfolio of events,
Airport Cities and many others, UBM Live exhibitions, conferences, awards programs,
publications, websites and training and certification programs are an integral part of
the marketing plans of companies across more than 20 industry sectors.
http://www.ubmlive.com

Follow us on twitter: @Routesonline, @TheHUBRoutes,
@VictoriaRoutes, @NLPROU, @airlineroute

ots Originaltext: UBM Live Routes Ltd
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
For further press information please contact: Victoria Jones, PR
Executive, Routes, T: +44-(0)161-234-2730, E: pr@routesonline.com