Industry bigwigs topbill aviation confab speakers

CEBU, Philippines — Top leaders in the aviation industry will highlight Cebu’s first hosting of Routes Asia 2019, an event seen to lure global carriers to connect into one of Asia's promising aviation markets.

Asia's only route development conference, happening in Cebu on March 10-12 at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, will feature a lineup of notable leaders from all corners of the industry who will share their thoughts on key topics such as the Philippines’ domestic aviation market, the future of Asia-Pacific air transportation and sustainable tourism.

The event a series of panel debates, presentations and an exclusive training session from global route development consultancy ASM, Routes Asia said in an announcement.

It will also feature two of the country’s notable aviation leaders: Cebu Pacific president and CEO Lance Y. Gokongwei and Philippine Airlines president and COO Jaime J. Bautista.

A dominant player in the Philippines, Cebu Pacific has grown to house a fleet of 67 aircraft and operates flights from Cebu and six other hubs in the country.

Gokongwei will document Cebu Pacific’s future growth strategy including its highly anticipated fleet delivery for 2019.

For his part, Bautista will share Philippine Airlines’ ambitions to become a five-star rated airline.

"The carrier’s president will also divulge a series of new international routes which are currently under consideration, including potential services to Paris, Rome, Frankfurt and Munich," the Routes Asia statement read.

Top leaders from companies such as IATA, AirAsia Group, VietJet Air and Virgin Australia will also debate critical factors set to influence the region’s market growth.

In a State of the Industry panel, IATA’s regional vice president for Asia Pacific Conrad Clifford will present his thoughts on the region’s passenger forecasts over the next few years, and how they can be achieved.

Dilhan Haradasa, group head of airport partnerships and incentives for AirAsia, will further comment on the long-haul low-cost sector and its major role in stimulating passenger growth. Haradasa will outline the necessary steps and incentives airports and destinations must take into account when approaching airlines.

Routes Asia brings together leading airlines, airports, tourism authorities and their stakeholders to discuss air services to, from and within Asia.

Erwin Balane, head of route development at the Department of Tourism had said the event is an opportunity to lure more airlines to fly to Cebu.

To maximize its growth momentum, Cebu has to be promoted to Asian carriers due to growing demand for leisure travel.

For the last three years, passenger traffic in Cebu has grown from 7.77 million in 2015 to 9.59 million in 2017 for an average growth of 11.13 percent per year. This extraordinary growth of passenger traffic can be attributed to a number of new international air routes from China, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, United Arab Emirates and the US.

As of September 2018, total two-way passenger traffic to Cebu reached 7.77 million for an increase of 7.93 percent compared to the nine-month period in 2017. Likewise, the new passenger terminal building at Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) was completed in June 2018 thereby expanding its capacity from the current six million to 12 million passengers per annum. (FREEMAN)