Europe’s top route developers are set for destination Bergen

(Photo: Avinor / Francisco Munoz)

Bergen will be the main stage for Europe’s leading airline decision makers in 2020, with airport operator Avinor and several partners, having successfully bid to host Routes Europe. As a company Routes organises and operates world-renowned airline and airport networking events through its regional and world route development forums. With 1,200 attendees expected one of aviation’s leading event organisations will be bringing its well-renowned forum to Norway for the first time.

“Routes Europe is one of the most important conferences for route developers from airlines all over the region and further afield, allowing decision makers to get together and discuss new opportunities in growing the continent’s connectivity,” comments Jasper Spruit, VP Traffic Development, Avinor. “Having been a catalyst in helping Avinor develop business opportunities and bring new services to Norway, we’re proud to be a part of organising this renowned event. By hosting Routes Europe 2020, it allows Avinor to reach potential new partners in a good and efficient manner, while also giving leading airline decision makers the chance to discover the beautiful and booming city of Bergen.”

Routes Europe not only brings Europe’s leading airline and airport network developers together, but it allows for the host to showcase its destination to some of the most important decision makers when it comes to airline network development. “We promise that Routes Europe 2020 participants will have an experience of a lifetime that they will never forget. We are fortunate to present a part of Norway and the Bergen region that has everything to offer in terms of natural beauty, local food and tourist attractions,” adds Spruit.

Commenting further on the announcement,Steven Small, Brand Director, Routes, added: “We are very excited to be working with Avinor to bring Routes Europe to Bergen in 2020. Avinor produced a compelling bid to host Routes Europe, full of fresh ideas which we believe our community will enjoy and appreciate. With an already impressive European network and as the gateway to the stunning Norwegian Fjords, plus a compact, walkable city centre, Bergen offers an outstanding opportunity to showcase Norway’s incredible visitor offer to the route development community. We are sure that our delegates will enjoy Bergen’s vibrancy and we can’t wait to see how Routes Europe 2020 will unfold.”

Bergen – a natural choice
One of the many reasons for why Bergen was selected to host Routes Europe 2020 is due to its ever-growing popularity as a destination, for both domestic and international markets. “For the first nine months of 2018, international passengers from Bergen have grown by 3.0%, with 1.91 million people flying on non-domestic routes from Norway’s second busiest airport between January and September,” informs Spruit.

Avinor is working hard to advertise Norway as a whole package to airlines, and Bergen is a stand-out example of a regional airport with potential for network development. “In geographical terms, Bergen is in a good location for routes eastwards and south-eastwards, and after having opened a new terminal in August 2017, Bergen Airport is ready for more route developments,” adds Spruit.

The Routes Europe conference will be held in Grieghallen in Bergen and is a partnership between Avinor, Fjord Norway, Innovation Norway, Visit Bergen, the City of Bergen, Grieghallen and Hordaland county municipality.

The conference in Bergen will be held from 27th April to 29th April in 2020.

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Press service for journalists:

Travellers are adviced to call our passenger service at +47 915 06 400
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Aslak Sverdrup
Airport Director - Bergen Airport
+47 932 31 791
aslak.sverdrup@avinor.no