MANCHESTER, England, May 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Airline CEOs and Ministers of Tourism sign up to participate in Routes Africa Strategy Summit

Routes Africa is the only network planning forum for the African region and the 8^th Routes Africa event will take place in Kampala, Uganda on 7-9 July 2013 and will be hosted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Uganda and Entebbe International Airport.  

The event will open with the Routes Africa Strategy Summit which will take place on Sunday 7^th and Monday 8^th July and delegates will hear keynote addresses from Dr Titus Naikuni, CEO of Kenya Airways and Honourable Maria Mutagamba, The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife & Antiquities Uganda. This hard hitting interactive event is free to attend for all registered delegates and is set to give a valuable insight into aviation across the whole of Africa.

A panel of leading industry experts will then take part in moderator led discussions and presentations addressing aviation and route development issues across the region including:

New Carriers for New Africa - The Rise of LCCs

Driving Tourism in Africa

Public, Private Partnerships for Airport Management & Development

Operating in Europe: Traffic Rights and Airport Slots

Other High level speakers who have already confirmed their participation include; Minister Alain St. Ange, Minister, Tourism for Seychelles, Abderahmane Berthe, CEO of Air Mali, Sergio Rosa, CEO of Air Burkina, Joachim von Winning, Chief Commercial Officer of Cairo Airport, Richard Bodin, Chief Commercial Officer of FastJet, Inati Ntshanga, CEO of SA Express Airways, Cuthbert Baguma, CEO of Tourism Uganda and Ali Tounsi, Secretary General of ACI Africa.

Nigel Mayes, VP Commercial, Routes, UBM Live is looking forward to the event, commenting: "We have a number of highly respected speakers confirmed for the Routes Africa Strategy Summit which will provide an impactful opening to the event. The seniority level of these delegates is impressive and goes to show that Routes Africa is the leading event for real decision makers from the African aviation industry. The event has immense potential for growth and we are looking forward to Routes Africa in Uganda."

The event will bring together more than 250 delegates from airports, airlines, tourism authorities and other industry stakeholders from across Africa to discuss air service development. Routes Africa attracts key decision makers from a wide variety of airlines and the 2013 event is expected to attract over 30 airlines from across the region and beyond with over 20 carriers already registered to attend including four of the top five African carriers by Available Seat Kilometres (ASK); South African Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and Egyptair. Other carriers who have so far confirmed their attendance at the event include Etihad Airways, Nasair, Mango, Rwandair, United Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Vueling.  

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 1^st 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

SOURCE UBM Live Routes Ltd