LONDON, September 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Sichuan Province Airport Group named as host of next year's Airport Cities  

UBM, the organisers of a series of global and regional events for the airport development and real estate communities today announced that its first event of 2015 will be hosted by Sichuan Province Airport Group in Chengdu, China on 13-15 May 2015.

Through high-level debate and discussion around the topic of the creation and development of airport cities and aerotropolis in the Asia Pacific region, Airport Cities Asia Pacific will provide a global platform for innovation, thought-leadership and sharing best practice.

The event will unite the entire international 'airport city community' with senior decision-makers attending from airports, airlines, economic development agencies, financial institutions, real estate and urban development companies, industry suppliers and global and regional businesses.

Speaking from Sichuan Province Airport Group Co., the General Manager, Mr Gangjun Pan commented "We are delighted to host the 2015 Airport Cities Asia Pacific Conference & Exhibition." "Our goal is to become China's best airport operations management provider."

Already managing China's fourth largest aviation hub, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport,  Sichuan Province Airport Group are looking forward to showcasing the construction of a new airport development in Chengdu which they hope will lead the way in airport city development nationally. Mr Gangjun Pan added, "By taking the opportunity to host Airport Cities Asia Pacific in Chengdu next year, we look forward to sharing knowledge and experiences, making new connections, and establishing win-win partnerships with global experts, scholars, and companies who are committed to promoting airport and airport city development."

"We are very excited to be taking Airport Cities Asia Pacific to Chengdu in May 2015." remarked Paula Milburn, Development Director - Aviation, UBM Live, organisers of the event.  "Based on the experience of having previously run our Routes Asia event in Chengdu 2012, we are confident that when we bring Airport Cities Asia Pacific to Chengdu it will be equally successful. By hosting Airport Cities in Chengdu, Sichuan Province Airport Group are demonstrating thought-leadership and taking the opportunity to showcase the application of industry-leading best practice in the planning, creation and operation of their new airport city. Airport Cities Asia Pacific 2015 will offer attendees a unique opportunity to gain insights on the collaborative planning process and complex development strategies involving numerous stakeholders that are involved in creating an airport city. Delegates will also learn how to leverage opportunities and implement best practice at their own airport developments. We look forward to working with the dynamic team at Sichuan Province Airport Group over the coming 9 months to deliver an exceptional event."

China has already become the second largest aviation transportation system in the world with Chengdu, listed as one of the fastest growing cities of the next decade by Forbes magazine in 2010. By 2015, passenger throughput to Chengdu is predicted to increase to 40 million from 33.45 million in 2013 with cargo throughput increasing to 800,000 tons. In order to speed up the adjustment of industrial structure in Sichuan, and position it as the economic centre of western China, Sichuan Province Airport Group are to begin construction of a new airport in Chengdu due to be put into operation in 2018. The new Airport will have a 560,000 m2 terminal area along with 6 runways, which can meet a passenger throughout of 90 million. Etihad Airways, British Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines and Finnair have made commitments to fly to Chengdu.

For further information about the event visit airportcities.aero.

About Airport Cities Asia Pacific  

• Airport Cities Asia Pacific is one of a series of events serving the global airport development and real estate communities
• The Airport Cities brand was acquired by UBM in 2012 and from 1st August 2012 Airport Cities Conference and Exhibition, the Aerotropolis events and the Routes and ASM businesses became 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, Aerotropolis Americas, Aerotropolis EMEA and Airport Cities, 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

About Sichuan Province Airport Group 

With the reform of civil aviation airport localization, Sichuan Airport Group Co., Ltd was established in March, 2004 and became a key provincial enterprise under the control of State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Sichuan Province. The Group is mainly engaged in airport investment, airport operation management, ground handling for airport aviation, ground transportation and relevant non-aviation businesses, with six airports i.e. Chengdu, Xichang, Dazhou, Guangyuan, Panzhihua and Luzhou airports under its administration. In 2013, all companies owned by the Group completed 265,000 aircraft take offs and landings, handled 34,639,000 passengers and 508,000 tons of cargos and mails. Among the above mentioned airports, Chengdu Airport is not only an aviation gateway of Sichuan Province and Chengdu City, but also the base for the Air China Southwest Branch, the Sichuan Airlines, the Chengdu Airlines, the Sichuan Branch of China Eastern Airlines and the Chengdu Branch of Yunnan Lucky Air LLC. In 2013, the Chengdu Airport guaranteed 251,000 successful flights and realized throughput of 33,446,000 passengers and 502,000 tons of cargos and mails, including international (regional) throughput of 2,354,000 passengers, with year-on-year growth of 23.3%. The airport ranks fifth in China and the only one in China's Midwest with throughput of over 30,000,000 passengers. As of December, 2013, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport had 222 routes, including 71 international (regional) routes.

In recent years, Sichuan Airport Group Co., Ltd. set a new development strategy and defined development vision and strategic objective, laying a solid foundation for sustainable development of the Group. Taking the opportunity of the 10th Route Development Forum for Asia, aviation market was further expanded, international routes were added rapidly and market competitiveness was strengthened continuously. Internal reform was particularly effective, regional airports were integrated stably, delicacy management was developed vigorously and management level was improved increasingly, preserving and increasing the value of state-owned property. At present, the Group is striving to enhance its comprehensive competitiveness continuously and endeavor to create a national-level international aviation hub, obtain the honor of World's Best 10 Airport and build a beautiful airport that is people-oriented, harmonious and outstanding!

About UBM plc 

UBM plc is a global events-led marketing services and communications company. We help businesses do business, bringing the world's buyers and sellers together at events and online, as well as producing and distributing news and specialist content. Our 5,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into expert teams which serve commercial and professional communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.

For more information, go to http://www.ubm.com; follow us on Twitter at @UBM_plc to get the latest UBM corporate news; follow @UBMNews for news from all UBM's businesses; follow @UBM for a flavour of UBM from selected members of UBM's Twitterati.

For further press information please contact:

Annelise Quinton
Marketing Manager
Airport Cities and Aerotropolis
T: +44(0)20-7921-8553
E: Annelise.quinton@ubm.com
Follow us on twitter: @AirportCities

SOURCE UBM