The 14th Routes Asia opens today at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia complex, Metro Manila with over a thousand aviation professionals from across the world expected to attend.
DOT Undersecretary Benito Bengzon, Jr. said that hosting the event is an important milestone for the Philippines as it gives the country’s aviation industry the opportunity “to be a vital participant in the discussions on the future of aviation in Asia,” citing the region as the biggest aviation market, with massive aircraft orders pending and the highest number of low cost airlines.
“The new routes and air services which we expect to establish from network connections with some of the most important aviation decision makers will help us capture a larger market share of the outbound travelers, and with both local and foreign carriers mounting new routes and upgrading frequencies, we are confident that these direct links will stimulate stronger traffic from the country’s major source markets,” Bengzon explained.
The three-day Routes Asia 2016 has attracted 95 airlines, 169 airports, 12 tourism authorities, and 17 aviation data suppliers from Europe, North American and South Africa.