Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport has won the prestigious Routes Awards, earning this year’s title of Overall Winner. Additionally, the airport won the award for airports with over 20 million passengers.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport has devised the ‘2025 Pioneers’ strategy to meet the growing demands of sustainability and performance. Their innovative approach enables the operation of new-generation aircraft on 24% of flights this year. The airport enhances direct connectivity and fosters competition among key markets. In 2022 alone, Charles de Gaulle Airport introduced 71 new routes and expanded its reach to 23 new destinations. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the airport has made significant progress and has already recovered 88% of its pre-pandemic passenger traffic levels from 2019.
David Dufros, aviation development director at CDG, said: “Paris CDG Aviation Development team is very proud to have won the 20m pax Routes World award this year! We would like to thank our airline partners for this achievement! This is the result of passionate and dedicated work initiated many years ago, for the benefit of our clients. This award encourages us to continue developing air connectivity in a sustainable way.”
Newcastle International Airport wins under the 5 million passenger category.
Newcastle International Airport took the prize in the under 5 million passenger category. Providing cost-effective, tailored, and comprehensive marketing and travel trade exposure for their airline partners, Newcastle has welcomed four new airlines and 30 new routes in the last year.
Leon McQuaid, director of aviation development at NCL, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this prestigious Routes World award. A big thank you to all of our airline partners for nominating us, which is great recognition for all of our teams’ dedication and hard work to deliver for our airlines.”
Larkana International Airport Wins the 5-10 million passenger category.
Larnaka International Airport won the 5-10 million passenger category. The airport has introduced a new airline incentive scheme in 2022 focused on new routes, market penetration, and winter operations, LCA has since welcomed nine new airlines and introduced 28 routes across 2022 and 2023.
Maria Kouroupi, senior manager of aviation development, marketing, and communication at LCA, said: “It is a great honor to receive this award today. This recognition strengthens our commitment to our airline partners, our stakeholders, and our industry. We are confident that, together, we will be able to face any challenges and create value for everyone.”
Brussels Airport Wins the 10-20 million passenger category.
Brussels Airport, the 10-20 million passenger category winner, provides extensive marketing support for its airline partners. Over the last year, the airport has run various campaigns, including 10 online activation contests, 16 social media campaigns, and 12 on-airport giant display opportunities. The airport’s traffic has now returned to 90% of 2019 levels, supported by a passenger growth incentive scheme.
Léon Verhallen, director of aviation development at BRU, said: “We are delighted that our strategy of ‘have seats, will travel’ is highly appreciated by our airlines. We successfully launched new initiatives to rebuild the network and regain passenger traffic. Five new airlines, 15 new destinations, and a passenger traffic recovery of up to 90% of traffic in 2023 are clear evidence of the success of Brussels Airport in our very competitive catchment area.”
Cape Town Air Access Wins Routes Destination
Cape Town Air Access won the destination category. Collaborating with public and private entities to enhance air connectivity, Cape Town Air Access has consistently exceeded international passenger recovery rates. It has achieved 106% of 2019 levels in the year-to-date, adding seven new international airlines and routes in the past year.
David King, project manager at Cape Town Air Access, said: “We are honored to be recognized for the second year in a row with the Routes World Destination Award. This achievement underscores our belief in the power of passion, creativity, and innovation and the positive results that can be achieved with a small, dedicated team. This award is a testament to the resourcefulness and commitment of all the Cape Town Air Access partners in promoting Cape Town International Airport and the Western Cape province as a destination of choice for airlines and passengers alike and a must-visit place for travelers worldwide.”
Vueling Wins Routes Airline Award
Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling secured the airline award. The airline focuses on building a sustainable future for the carrier and its partners, emphasizing a long-term approach to partnerships. As a result, around 85% of its services stretch beyond the three-year mark. The airline operates a higher frequency per route than its competitors.
Daniel Johan Reus, Vueling’s network development manager, said: “Vueling is extremely proud to have won the prestigious award for best airline in sustainable growth at the Routes World conference. Our commitment to lasting impact is a testament to the power of perseverance, thoughtful planning, and dedication. This award is not just a recognition of our past successes, but a promise to continue our journey towards a sustainable future.”
Rising Star Award Tatamo Rakotozafy, Ravinala Airports
Tatamo Rakotozafy, head of aviation marketing at Ravinala Airports, won the rising star award. Rakotozafy has been instrumental in improving air connectivity for the airport operator, including lobbying government authorities to facilitate new routes and the reopening of borders. He also formed committees to build strong relationships with aviation and tourism stakeholders and helped establish the country’s first financial incentive program for airports.
Individual Leadership Award Winner: Vicki Jaramillo, Orlando International Airport
Vicki Jaramillo, the chief development officer at Orlando International Airport, received the individual leadership award. Throughout her career, Jaramillo has been committed to making Orlando a global hub by fostering connections worldwide. She has successfully launched several international routes with renowned airlines such as Emirates and Lufthansa. Jaramillo’s accomplishments are a result of her determination, as she tailors strategies to meet the specific requirements of each airline, backed by her extensive understanding of the data and insights that drive route proposals.
Following the win, Jaramillo said: “It is a great honor for me to receive this Individual Leadership Award for lifetime achievement in route development. This accomplishment is the pinnacle milestone in my air service development career, which has been my passion. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the entire Routes team, and all that enabled me to achieve this recognition.”
The full list of Routes winners:
- Overall Winner
- Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
- Under 5 Million Passengers
- Newcastle International Airport
- 5-10 Million Passengers
- Larnaka International Airport
- 10-20 Million Passengers
- Brussels Airport
- Over 20 Million Passengers
- Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
- Destination
- Cape Town Air Access
- Airline
- Vueling
- Rising Star
- Tatamo Rakotozafy, Head of Aviation Marketing, Ravinala Airports
- Individual Leadership
- Vicki Jaramillo, Chief Development Officer, Orlando International Airport
Routes World 2024 host – Bahrain International Airport
Routes World, which brings together decision-makers from airlines, airports, and destinations to define the world’s air route networks, is heading to the Kingdom of Bahrain from 6-8 October 2024.
The 2023 edition of Routes World, hosted by iGA – Istanbul Airport, ended as Bahrain International Airport took responsibility for hosting the next event. Bahrain, strategically located in the Gulf, is an important trading hub and offers a favorable business environment with exceptional aviation infrastructure.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Steven Small, director of Routes, said: “Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 aims for a productive, robust economy that is sustainable, globally competitive and fair. Routes World will be a critical event for the Kingdom to achieve this aim. By uniting decision makers from the route development community in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the destination will be at the center of conversations driving growth in global air connectivity.”
“We are honored that the Kingdom of Bahrain will be hosting this prominent global event, and we’d like to congratulate Team Bahrain for their efforts in contributing to hosting the 29th edition of the conference that will bring together global leaders from the aviation sector under one roof. The conference will support the objectives of the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, with an aim to position the Kingdom as a global, competitive, and sustainable economic hub,” said H.E Zayed R. Alzayani, Chairman of Gulf Air Group Holding (GFG).
Routes World 2024 in Bahrain aims to showcase the nation’s aviation history, infrastructure, and thriving tourism industry, attracting international airlines and fostering business opportunities. The event has significantly impacted air services worldwide, with over half of new routes originating from connections made at Routes World. VPs and Heads of Network Planning from 250 carriers will attend the event.
About Routes Events
Routes events are exclusive yearly forums organized by Aviation Week Network. These forums aim to foster the development of new air services. Regional route development forums are held across different continents, including the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Africa/Middle East. The flagship event, Routes World, usually occurs in October. These events feature pre-scheduled meetings, an exhibition, and a conference organized in partnership with host stakeholders. Hosts typically collaborate with airports, tourism authorities, and investment partners. The bidding process for hosting these events occurs two to three years in advance of the actual event. For more information, visit www.routesonline.com.
About Aviation Week Network
Aviation Week Network is the largest provider of multimedia information and services for the global aviation, aerospace, and defense industries. With a readership of 1.7 million professionals worldwide, it helps industry experts understand market dynamics, make informed decisions, and anticipate future trends. The platform is a valuable resource for aerospace manufacturers, airlines, airports, business aviation operators, militaries, governments, and other organizations involved in this industry. Aviation Week Network offers various resources, including award-winning journalism, data analysis, intelligence reports, top-notch tradeshows and conferences, effective marketing services and advertising opportunities. It is a division of Informa Markets, part of Informa PLC.