High-level Routes Africa Strategy Forum begins in one week

The Routes Africa Strategy Forum is a high-level conference, which is open to all delegates and will be addressing some of the current issues in African aviation. The forum will take place on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning so delegates will get the chance to participate in the forum and then attend their pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings. It has been confirmed from the Seychelles that President Didier Robert from La Reunion island will also be addressing Routes Africa 2012. Also now confirmed is the long list of Ministers coming from Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, which is set to make the Routes Africa 2012 Forum the ideal venue for one-to-one meetings and for networking.

At the same time in Seychelles will be the SADC’s RETOSA Board Meeting, the ICTP (International Council for Tourism Partners) General Meeting, and the Indian Ocean Vanilla Island’s Ministers Meeting and simultaneously their CEO Meeting.

“Interline Workshop at Routes Africa 2012: The Forum” will close with an Interline Workshop; this will give carriers the opportunity to discuss market opportunities with other airlines. With the cost of operating new air services increasing, more carriers are seeking lower cost means of entering markets through interline agreements, codeshares, and joint ventures. The session will begin with a presentation giving an overview of how airlines can work together. Following the presentation, carriers will be able to set up meetings with other airlines to discuss potential partnership arrangements.

SUNDAY, JULY 8

OPENING REMARKS:

– Mr. Ged Brown, International Tourism Development Director, UBM Aviation Routes
– Minister Joel Morgan, Minister of Home Affairs & Transport, Seychelles

KEYNOTE ADDRESS:

Minister Marthinus Van Schalkuyk, Minister for Tourism, Republic of South Africa

KEYNOTE ADDRESS:

Mr. Cramer Ball, Chief Executive Officer, Air Seychelles

SESSION 1: UNLOCING THE MARKET – LIBERALIZATION VS. COMPETITION

How do African governments unlock their market potential while balancing against the development of a national carrier? Is an open skies policy the best way forward? Can countries work together? Do foreign carriers generate economic wealth or restrict the development of based national carriers? Is building a national airline an insurance policy for a sustainable network?

Moderator – Mr. Vijay Poonoosamy, Vice President International & Public Affairs, Etihad Airways & Chair – IATA Industry Affairs Committee

– Mr. Vivendra Lochan, COO, Airlines Association of Southern Africa
– Mrs. Doreen Owusu-Fianko, Managing Director, Ghana Airports Company Limited
– Mr. Fernando Estrada, Director of Strategy & Alliances, Vueling
– Mr. Jean-Marc Grazzini, Executive Vice President for Business Development, Air Austral
– Mrs. Marlene Manave, CEO, LAM

REFRESHMENT BREAK

SOURCE MARKET DIVERSIFICATION – THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

Many African destinations are exploring new avenues to potential markets in untapped regions as they respond to the recession in their traditional, core markets across Europe.

Moderator: Hon. Alain St Ange, Seychelles Minister for Tourism

– Hon. Walter Mzembi, Zimbabwe Minister of Tourism & Hospitality *
– Mr. Subhash Goyal, Chairman & CEO, STIC Travel Group
– Mr. Fatih Cigal, Network Planning Manager, Turkish Airlines
– Mr. John Twiss, Network Planning Manager, United Airlines

ASM WORKSHOP: THE GLOBAL OUTLOOK FOR AFRICA – THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE OPPORTUNITY

Presented by: Mr. Nick Oldrini, ASM

What are the largest markets out of Africa? Which markets are growing the fastest? What are the largest city-pairs not served? How large is the Chinese market, will it drive growth of traffic into Africa?

PRESENTATION: NEW ROUTE OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA

Mr. Mohamed Khalil, Airline Marketing Manager, Africa and Middle East, Bombardier Commerical Aircraft

WELCOME RECEPTION

MONDAY, JULY 9

KEYNOTE ADDRESS:

Mr. Gebremaraim Tewolde, Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines

KEYNOTE ADDRESS:

Mr. Ali Tounsi, Secretary General, ACI Africa

SESSION 2: SAFETY, SECURITY & STANDARDS

Moderator – Mr. Raphael Kuuchi, Director, Commercial/Corporate & Industry Affairs, AFRAA (African Airlines Association)

– Mr. Bert van der Stege, Commercial Director, Rwandair
– Mr. Nico Bezuidenhout, CEO, Mango Airlines*
– Mr. Tshepo Peege, Acting Deputy Director General, South African Civil Aviation Authority*

REFRESHMENT BREAK

SESSION 3: THE ROAD TO RECOVERY – REBUILDING & LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

What impact has Arab Spring had on the North Africa market? Has the inbound tourism market returned? Are there new opportunities for growth? How important is political stability in the region?

Moderator – Mr. Jeremy Robinson, Partner, Gates & Partners

– Mr. Joachim von Winning, Chief Commercial Officer, Cairo Airport Company
– Mr. Rany Nasser, Abu Dhabi Airports Company

INTERLINE WORKSHOP – KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Mr. John Shepley, Vice President Network Planning, Etihad Airways

INTERLINE WORKSHOP – ONE-TO-ONE MEETINGS

LUNCH

* Invited

AIRLINE LIST FOR ROUTES AFRICA 2012:

Air Austral
Air Charter International
Air Mauritius
Air Seychelles Ltd
Arik Air Ltd
Astral Aviation Ltd
Bulgarian Air Charter Ltd
Comair Inc.
Egyptair
Emirates
Equatorial Congo Airlines – ECAir
Ethiopian Airlines
Etihad Airways
flydubai
Iberia Airlines
Jetairfly
Kenya Airways
Kulula.com
LAM – Linhas Aereas de Mozambique
Malaysia Airlines Cargo (MASkargo)
Mango
Mega Maldives
Nas Air (Saudi Arabia)
Nasair
Qatar Airways
RwandAir
South African Airways
Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines Cargo
United Airlines
Vueling Airlines
Zambezi Airlines

AIRPORT LIST ATTENDING ROUTES AFRICA 2012:

Abu Dhabi Airports Company
Aeroportos De Mozambique
Aeroports du Mali
Airports of Mauritius Co. Ltd.
Bamako Senou International Airport
Beira
Cairo International Airport
Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe
Civil Aviation Authority,Uganda
Copenhagen Airports A/S
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
Djibouti
Entebbe International Airport
Frankfurt Airport
Gambia Civil Aviation Authority
Ghana Airports Company Limited
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
Julius Nyerere International Airport
Kenya Airports Authority
Kilimanjaro International Airport
Kotoka International Airport
Libreville International Airport
Liege Airport
Maputo International Airport
Mombasa International Airport
Munich Airport
Mwanza Airport
Nampula
Pemba, Mozambique
Quelimane
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport
Sharjah International Airport
Stockholm Arlanda
Tanzania Airports Authority
Vienna International Airport
Vilnius International Airport

DESTINATION LIST COMING TO ROUTES AFRICA 2012:

Mauritius Ministry of Tourism and Leisure
Mozambique Ministry of Tourism
Seychelles Tourism Board
South African Tourism
Tenerife Tourism Corporation
Zimbabwe Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority

SUPPLIER LIST COMING TO ROUTES AFRICA 2012:

AFRAA
Bombardier Aerospace
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft
CARNOC.com
Civil Aviation Authority of Mozambique
Interturbine Aviation Logistics GmbH
Lufthansa Consulting GmbH
MUVI Telelvision
Swazi Observer
Swaziland Civil Aviation Authority
TCR International NV
The STAT Trade Times
Trepel Airport Equipment