MANCHESTER, England, April 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Airline CEOs join senior industry leaders in Budapest at the region's largest commercial aviation forum of 2013

Taking place on Sunday 12^th May 2013, the Routes Europe Strategy Summit will open Routes Europe in Budapest.  Following on from its successful debut at last year's Routes Europe Event, the Summit will provide a valuable insight into aviation across the region, as panels of leading industry experts take part in a number of moderator led discussions addressing key air service development issues such as: The effect of the EU freeze and the long term viability of ETS; Fragmentation in the European airline market and the effects of consolidation, mergers and alliances; and Evolution of the Low Cost Carrier Model and how the model will further develop and what challenges LCCs face in the future.

The specially developed hard hitting content and interactive format ensures that the Summit is a popular element of the event, which will be hosted by Budapest Airport, and this year many senior level speakers have signed up to take part in this significant industry event.  CEO of Wizz Air, József Váradi will open the Summit with a keynote address and, most recently, Mr Yiorgos Lakkotrypis, Minister of Commerce, Industry & Tourism for Cyprus has confirmed that he will give a keynote presentation entitled Cyprus - What Happens Next during which, attendees will hear about the country's future plans.

Nigel Mayes, Vice President Commercial, Routes is looking forward to the Summit:  "We are delighted that the Minister of Commerce, Industry & Tourism for Cyprus is joining us to give an overview of what may happen next to the country.  Mr Lakkotrypis is the latest in long line of senior participants at this year's event and the excellent line-up of speakers should ensure some incredibly interesting discussions at the Routes Europe Strategy Summit."

A further presentation on the overview of the EU external aviation policy will be delivered by Máté Gergely, DG MOVE International Transport Affairs, European Commission.  Many other industry thought leaders have confirmed their participation at the second annual Routes Europe Strategy Summit including: Jost Lammers, CEO, Budapest Airport; Vijay Poonoosamy, Vice President International & Public Affairs, Etihad Airways & Chair - IATA Industry Affairs Committee; Francois Bouteiller, CEO, Nasair; Christian Schneider, Chief Commercial Officer, Darwin Airline SA; Christian Holzleitner, International Carbon Market, Aviation and Maritime, DG Climate Action, European Commission; Fernando Estrada, Strategy & Alliance Director, Vueling; John Hanlon, Secretary General, ELFAA and Dirk Kokcott, Director of Business Development, Germanwings.

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