Hyderabad International Airport to host 2009 Routes Regional Asia event
30 May 2007
GMR Group's Hyderabad International Airport, which is due to become operational by next year March, wrested the event from international competitors, including Beijing and two Australian airports.
The event will see the presence of at least 500 delegates including airline route planners, senior representatives from airports, government officials, tourism authorities and industry related exhibitors and observers. The event will also mark the first anniversary of the opening of the Hyderabad international airport.
The event is organised by the Route Development Group, a UK-based company, which organises regional Route Development Forums every year in the four regions of Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. The aim is to help the various stakeholders develop formal and informal networking.
According to T Srinagesh, the chief executive officer of GHIAL, the event would provide an ideal opportunity to not only market the upcoming airport but also to promote Hyderabad as a destination for top level decision makers in the aviation sector.
Eric Layden, vice president (emerging markets and government relations) of the Routes Development Forum, said: 'There is enormous increase in the middle class income group and demand for national and international air travel has never been higher.'
He pointed out that 73 million passengers used the airport system in India during 2004-05 and it was predicted to reach 100 million by 2010. The country has 16 international and 87 national airports.
He also described the growth of airlines in India as astonishing and said that they already had 400 Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Further, he pointed out, the Indian Government was continuing with its efforts to liberalise air services.