Glyn Jones
CEO - London Southend Airport
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 19th 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 over 19 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 CEOs are also invited to give exclusive briefings to give full insight into company policy.
View Conference Programme
John Strickland
Director - JLS Consulting
Martin Gauss
CEO - airBaltic
Oliver Newton
Strategic Network Planner
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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Airports
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Countries
Jump to:
“I managed to have over 20 scheduled meetings with current and potential airline partners”
Piotr Lenarczyk
Aeronautical Services Sales Manager, Polish Airports State Enterprise
“Great organization, perfect conditions, delicious food, very friendly and cosy atmosphere and professional communication. Meetings at CONNECT are always very productive! We hope next year will be at least as excellent as it was in 2022!”
Radostina Zlateva
Aviation Marketing & Route Development Expert, Fraport Bulgaria
“Congratulations to CONNECT for the wonderfully organised event! We appreciated the warm welcome during Finnish winter and look forward to joining CONNECT next year in Morocco!”
UAG Team
United Airports of Georgia
“What a great event and host city. The easyJet team and I really enjoyed our time and loved the Finnish hospitality. Thank you!”
Chris Burnett
Network Flexibility Lead, easyJet
“The skydive was an amazing experience. Beautiful to see the island from above! The conference was very professional but had a relaxed vibe, which I believe was due to the fact that it was held in Sardinia.”
Jesper Tit
Network Planner, KLM
“Thank you for the event organisation. As always excellent organisation, quality meetings, transfers worked well, and the food was great during the event (which makes a massive difference). Thank you, we look forward to next year’s event!”
Janice Mather
Head of Airports & Tourism Organisations, Jet2.com & Jet2holidays
“Second time at CONNECT and it just gets better, thank you for a great conference!”
Dimitrios Schoinas
Airport Development Manager, easyJet
“Professional and well-organized event. Fantastic atmosphere during official part and social part also.”
Denis Osnach
Krasnodar International 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
“I had more meetings than expected. Very professional and highly effective in a cordial and relaxed environment. A great event!”
Luce Bureau
VP, Air Service Development
“During the event we had a lot of scheduled and unscheduled meetings, giving us many opportunities to meet with airport delegates. Thank you for the help and support!”
Eda Ermert
Network Development Analyst, Turkish Airlines
“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
“A fantastically organised event down to the tiniest details. It was my first time at CONNECT and I was thoroughly impressed. I could not have imagined a better way to resume networking in person!”
Anjana Balwalli
Senior Manager Network & Airport Relations, Eurowings Discover
“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
“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
“Great event in Cagliari – seriously impressed with event logistics – we will certainly return to Cagliari!”
Guilherme Rosas da Costa
Network & Scheduling Planner, Stobart Air
“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
“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
“It was the best route networking event I've ever attended. Apart from the success of the meetings we had, the accommodation, the food, the entertainment was magnificent.”
Tayfun Basak
Marketing Manager, Tailwind 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
“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
“Attending CONNECT is always a very good opportunity to meet wonderful people and work on great projects. Always pleased to be a very small piece of the big puzzle of aviation.”
Salima El Mghazli
Head of Distribution & Airli...
“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
“CONNECT offers the opportunity to network and catch-up with airports from Europe and beyond, in a very relaxed setting. In 2020, the event helped us launch 5 new routes to Italy and France. In 2022 we will be in Tampere to join new conversations and new projects for our network.”
Jonay Lobo
Chief Network, Revenue Management & Alliances Director
“Thank you, team CONNECT for a wonderful event in Tampere. We are always happy being a close partner of CONNECT and good friends with all of you!”
Aurimas and Tomas
Aviation Services, Lithuanian Airports
“What an amazing event! We loved the venue, the city and all the opportunities that came with CONNECT! Thank you!”
James Liu
Senior Management Consultant, Lufthansa Systems
“Thank you so much for the excellent organisation, I only could spend 24h at CONNECT but it was 200% worth it!”
Sonja Gehlen
Senior Aviation Development Manager, Brussels 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
“We had more than 35 formal meetings held with Airports, Airlines and have turned Business Cases discussed at last year’s CONNECT into reality, launching routes such as BUD, ROM and ZIA.”
Igor Aptsiauri
Commercial Director, Myway Airlines
“First time in CONNECT for Madagascar’s team and thank you so much, everything was perfect!”
Zoélisoa Rajohnson
Commercial and Marketing Director, Ravinala Airport
