MANCHESTER, England, March 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Donetsk Sergey Prokofiev International Airport officially signed as Host of 2013 event.

Routes is delighted to announce that Donetsk Sergey Prokofiev International Airport was officially appointed today as the Host for the 3^rd Routes CIS event, to take place on 21-23 July of this year.

Routes CIS is the only route development forum for the entire CIS region and the 2013 event is expected to attract around 250 delegates. The event will offer the region's airlines and airports, as well as those from outside the region with an interest in increasing air connections to the CIS countries, the perfect platform to do business and improve air transport networks.

"We are delighted to announce Donetsk International Airport as the Host of Routes CIS 2013," said Katie Bland, Future Hosts Director for Routes. "The Event will offer the Routes community the opportunity to see the first-class airport facilities at the newly built airport, as well as experience the cosmopolitan city of Donetsk and the thriving and diverse region of Donbass. We look forward to working with the dynamic team at Donetsk Airport to deliver a great event."

Kirill Osypov, CEO of S.S. Prokofiev International Airport Donetsk emphasizes that his team is ready to do their best to organise the event to the highest level: "We appreciate that the organisers of Routes CIS have expressed confidence in our team and to become the Host of such a high level aviation event is a big honour for us. Widening the reach of our air transportation is one of the main priorities not only for our airport development strategy, but also for regional and government politics for the modernization of the aviation industry. Thus, on behalf of International Airport Donetsk I guarantee that forum participants will have the most comfortable conditions for productive professional discussions, besides which we will prepare an amazing sightseeing tour for the Routes CIS 2013 guests, that allows them in a short time to see all of the tourist attractions in the Donbass region."

With a population of over one million inhabitants, Donetsk is one of the largest cities in the Ukraine and is the administrative centre for the region which has a population of over four million people which makes up 10% of the overall population of the country. The Donetsk region is also the country's largest industrial centre incorporating metal, coal and chemical industries as well as heavy machinery.

Donetsk was also one of the host cities for the European Football Championship 2012 and in accordance with the plan for Euro 2012 a new airport terminal and runway was constructed in 2011. This new runway is able to land all kinds of aircraft without exception and the terminal has a capacity of 3,100 passengers per hour. The airport is now able to serve up to five million passengers per year, making it the second busiest airport in the Ukraine. Located seven kilometres away from the city centre, Donetsk Airport has a catchment area of 6.5 million potential passengers and flies to 29 international and domestic destinations.

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

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SOURCE UBM Live Routes Ltd