Annabelle Lepièce
Partner - CMS Belgium
Fuelling Growth
Why Attend?
While COVID has left its mark on the aviation sector, the CONNECT event is invaluable to help build back global networks and connect destinations. Now in its 21st year, CONNECT is an unmissable event for anyone looking to promote its region to high-level executives from airline, airports, tourism authorities and suppliers from the industry.
For 21 years, CONNECT has been an invaluable support to route development, bringing passionate individuals together to develop global network while unveiling destinations.
A Unique Formula
The event is designed to deliver a total networking experience, blending formal and informal meeting opportunities for all delegates combined with exclusive excursions to explore a new destination. Our friendly and relaxed atmosphere creates a pressure-free, highly productive environment to make business and nurture relationships.
98%
Overall event satisfaction
99%
Would recommend to a colleague
88%
Said the event helped generate new business
16
Average number of meetings held by airport attendees
Raise Your Profile
With exclusive sponsorship and exhibition space, make the most of the event to address hundreds of aviation leaders and decision-makers and increase brand awareness.
Unlimited Meetings
Unlimited one-to-one meetings arranged pre-event and on-site using our delegate meeting system. Join your industry colleagues after a day of productive meetings for one of our infamous evening events – a cocktail and dinner function in a prestigious venue, tasting the best of local cuisine and culture.
Leading Conference
Route development and industry briefings provide crucial industry analysis and updates. Airline and airport leaders are also invited to give exclusive briefings to give full insight into company policy.
View Conference Programme
Ray Kelliher
Director of Route Development - Ryanair
Kata Cserep
Global Managing Director, Aviation, Travel and Tourism - ICF
David Gunnarson
CEO - Dohop
Martin Gauss
CEO - airBaltic
Hatim El Gharbi
CCO - ONMT
Pedro Heilbron
CEO - Copa Airlines
Pierre-Hugues Schmit
CCO - VINCI Airports
Unwind with your industry colleagues and enjoy excursions that showcase the destination to its fullest potential.
City GuideEvent Benefits
How Can CONNECT Route Development Help You Grow?
Airlines
Our events are beneficial to airlines who are looking to expand their routes. Our delegates include representatives from airports, tourism operators, ground handlers, aircraft manufacturers, data suppliers and consultancies – plus many more!
- Develop new routes with new airports
- Meet new potential suppliers and consulting partners
- Form relationships with tourism associations
- Access the latest insider industry news via our conference programme
- Plan future business with existing partners and reinforce your relationships
- Grow your airlines through world-class airline networking
Airports
Our events are beneficial to airports who are looking to raise their profile and establish new routes. Our delegates include representatives from airlines, tour operators, ground handlers, aircraft manufacturers, data suppliers, consultancies and many more!
- Develop new routes
- Raise awareness of your airport and region
- Form relationships with tourism associations
- High quality networking opportunities
Consultants
Our events are beneficial to consultants looking to gain new business from airlines and airports. Our delegates include representatives from airports, airlines, tour operators, ground handlers, aircraft manufacturers, data suppliers and many more!
- Gain new business with airlines, airports and more through networking
- Get fresh insight into the industry including challenges it faces
- Raise awareness of your business with a stand at the event
Associations
Our events are beneficial to associations who want to bring new members on-board. Our delegates include representatives from airports, airlines, tour operators, ground handlers, aircraft manufacturers, data suppliers, consultancies and many more!
- Increase member count through networking
- Raise your association’s profile
- Form relationships with airlines and airports
Media
Our events are beneficial to members of the press who can gain exclusive content and seek new advertisers. Our delegates include representatives from airports, airlines, tour operators, ground handlers, aircraft manufacturers, data suppliers, consultancies and many more!
- Get exclusive interviews with the industry’s key figures
- Be the first to get the scoop on the latest news in the industry
- Identify and meet with potential advertisers
- Establish new working relationships for future editorial content
Suppliers
Our events are beneficial to suppliers who can identify new opportunities to sell their services. Our delegates include representatives from airports, airlines, tour operators, ground handlers, consultancies and many more!
- Raise awareness of your services to airlines and airports
- Establish new working relationships with airlines for future contracts
- Get one step ahead of your competitors with an event stand
- Share insights and analytics with a targeted audience of delegates
Tour Operators
Our events are beneficial to tour operators who can spread the word about their tours and boost their profile. Our delegates include representatives from airports, airlines, ground handlers, aircraft manufacturers, data suppliers, consultancies and many more!
- Increase awareness of your tours via industry networking
- Secure meetings with widely-read industry press
- High-quality networking opportunities
Every year CONNECT hosts:
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Airlines
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Airports
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Countries
“I had better outcomes than expected in the meetings I had and the networking events were very good.”
Jennifer Newman
VINCI Airports: London Gatwick Airport
“Connect is a conference where you can meet all your current and potential airline partners in a very relaxed way!”
Maarten Cooreman
Aarhus Airport
“CONNECT enabled us to meet with a good number of our airline partners. We were also able to take the temperature of the industry in terms of how other airports and industry leaders see things.”
Tom Screen
Aviation Director, Birmingham Airport
“What a fantastic CONNECT conference in Cagliari, over 40 meetings in 3 days which is a new record for RDC. A great opportunity to catch up with clients and introduce other companies to our products.”
Iain Smith
Director, RDC Aviation
“There is great attention to detail and the CONNECT team are like an army of ants with their eyes on everything!”
Emily James
Routes Development & Marketing, Bergerac Airport
“Perfect organization, both for meetings and for leisure time. CONNECT does compare better than other events in the aviation industry, with longer meeting slots, less stressed timing, which helps people talking and doing business.”
Antonello Bonolis
Aviation Business & Communication Director, Bologna Airport
“The event’s flexibility in scheduling meetings and timings was greatly appreciated. It provided a fantastic venue for meeting and greeting my airport clients.”
Gil Aguiles
RG Media
“As always CONNECT was fantastic, congratulations to all the team and to Karin for the wonderful organisation, missing to be part of the organisation. Fantastic event, fantastic organisation & fantastic people!”
Audrey Gil
Network Development Manager, Cagliari Airport
“Fantastic event, as ever! CONNECT helps our industry to build networks and air routes which are more important than ever to help our mixed-up world. Bravo to the whole team and see you next year!”
Patrick Edmond
Managing Director, Altair Advisory
“The venue was great, the meetings were long enough, the location and events were superb, the general ambiance was really pleasurable.”
Olgierd Szylejko
Network Strategy & Business Development, LOT Polish Airlines
“A very nice event in Tampere, extremely well-co-ordinated and very productive I have to say. Of course, we are planning to attend next event in Tangier.”
David Surley
Director Route Development, Aarhus Airport
“Excellent event looking forward to 2024.”
Simon Harley
London Luton Airport
“Professional and well-organized event. Fantastic atmosphere during official part and social part also.”
Denis Osnach
Krasnodar International Airport
“This was the first time I came to CONNECT in a few years and was impressed to see how much it has developed whilst retaining its small event feel with a quality meeting structure and networking.”
Marc Watkins
Director, Aviation Analytics
“Phenomenal opportunity to connect with industry leaders and suppliers.”
Camilo Martelo
Spirit Airlines
“My first time attending Connect and for sure not the last one! Very good number of airlines attending and overall great networking experience.”
Gretar Gardarsson
Keflavik-Reykjavik Airport
“As always, it was a great pleasure seeing you in Tampere after very long time. We enjoyed both Tampere and Finland, so thanks for bringing us to places we probably would not visit by ourselves. Thanks for an amazing event (as usual) and hospitality, we look forward to seeing you next year in Morocco!”
Bojan Aranđelović
Head of Network Planning and Scheduling, Air Serbia
“The event exceeded our expectations. It was very well-organised and we had lots of opportunities to meet and discuss with airlines and airports.”
Patrick Baudis
Vice President, Mitsubishi Aero Advisory
“CONNECT is a great format to network with industry professionals and decision-makers. Through our connections at the event, Flyadeal launched 3 routes to Tbilisi International Airport, with 9 frequencies per week.”
UAG Team
United Airports of Georgia
“Good meetings and good networking with relevant people for our business. Hopefully, we can come again to CONNECT.”
Joao Pita
GRU Airport
“CONNECT provides enough time for airlines and airports to meet and discuss, as well as build new and nurture existing relationships in the networking sessions.”
Atif Farooq
Network Manager UK, easyJet
“I had 2 contracts confirmed after the first day and am now in serious talks with potential customers regarding other contracts. A successful event for me!”
Victor Akunov
CEO, Fly2Russia
“Great event in Cagliari – seriously impressed with event logistics – we will certainly return to Cagliari!”
Guilherme Rosas da Costa
Network & Scheduling Planner, Stobart Air
“I was highly impressed by the level of organization at the event. It ran smoothly and provided a unique opportunity to connect with representatives from smaller Caribbean airports, a rarity at other conferences.”
Nadia Smekalin
WestJet Airlines
“Once again there has been a great hospitality and cordial atmosphere, with a meticulous attention to detail in arranging every possible thing for the participants. Everyone who matters in the European market was here.”
Max Oldorf,
CCO, ch-aviation
“CONNECT New World provided an incredible platform for passionate individuals like myself who desire to connect different corners of our planet. The event brought together like-minded professionals in the industry.”
Pierre-Hugues Schmit
Vinci Airports
“CONNECT is a very good fit for us with regards to attending airlines and their representatives! It’s an intimate setting, even though it's still a big event and a good value for money. Following this event, we are planning increased capacity on existing routes.”
Mats Sigurdson
Airline Development Director, Manchester Airport Group
“The event proved to be a valuable opportunity for us to consolidate meetings with our existing airline partners and connect with a few key service providers we collaborate with. Additionally, engaging in conversations with various airports brought about interesting insights. While my primary expectation was centered around networking, I found the event to be a valuable platform for fostering meaningful professional relationships.”
Aline Boitel
Hahn Air Lines
“Very nicely arranged with proper spreading of breaks and meetings.”
Remon Essers
Transavia Netherlands
“Great event to meet and greet friends and colleagues from the industry in the Latin American and Caribbean region.”
Jaime Escobar
ALTA
