Routes World 2024

Bringing together the global route development community

Kingdom of Bahrain
• 6 – 8 October 2024

Conference Programme Speakers

H.E Mohamed bin Thamir AlKaabi

Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Kingdom of Bahrain

Participating Talks and Sessions

H.E Fatima bint Jaffer AlSairafi

Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Bahrain

Participating Talks and Sessions

Jeffrey Goh

Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Air Group Holding

A seasoned professional in the aviation industry, Jeffrey Goh joined Gulf Air Group Holding in early 2023, leading a group that comprises Bahrain’s flag-carrier Gulf Air, Bahrain Airport Company, BAC Jet Fuel Company, and Gulf Aviation Academy. Prior to joining the business, he served as the CEO of Star Alliance from 2017 and has also held roles at IATA and Beaumont and Son, an aviation law firm in London. Recent expansion for Gulf Air has included the launch of flights to Guangzhou and Shanghai in China, increasing the airline’s network to more than 50 destinations worldwide.

Participating Talks and Sessions

Adel Abdullah Ali

Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia

Adel Abdullah Ali is well known for being at the forefront of the development of modern aviation.  His innovative achievements and contribution to air transport and tourism sector in the wider Arab world are globally recognized. He managed to transform Arab aviation in October 2003 when he set up Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first low-cost carrier (LCC), opening up a market niche in the region whose existence few had suspected.

The pioneering aviator drove Air Arabia’s growth in the next eight years into the largest low cost carrier in the MENA region, as well as the first publicly owned airline in the Arab World and it’s largest by market value. Drawing on his 28 years of experience with industry leaders such as Gulf Air and British Airways, Adel has also been able to guide Air Arabia to become amongst the world’s best run Low Cost Carriers, delivering a profit for eight years in succession.

Under the leadership of Adel, Air Arabia’s business model has gone from strength to strength, enabling it to expand operations, enter new ventures and diversify into new revenue streams. Today, the Group holds a portfolio of successful businesses and projects, offering travel, tourism and hospitality services across the globe.

In addition to being the Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, Adel is also the chairman of Sharjah Information Systems Associates, Alpha Sharjah catering,  Alpha Aviation Academy and Cozmo Travel. A board member of Sharjah Aviation Services;  Adel also sits on the board of Air Arabia (Maroc), based in Casablanca’s Mohamed V International Airport and Air Arabia (Egypt), based in Alexandria’s Burj Al Arab International Airport.

Since 2007 and for five consecutive years, Adel has been awarded ‘Airline CEO of the year’ by various industry forums. He was named ‘World’s best Low Cost Carrier CEO’ during the World LCC Congress in 2008. He entered the “Hall of Fame Award” in 2010, honoring his contribution to the Middle East Aviation. In 2011, Adel was named “Business Leader of the Year” at the Middle East Accountancy and Finance Excellence Awards as recognition for establishing Air Arabia as the region’s number one low-cost carrier.

Participating Talks and Sessions

Majid Khan

Chief Executive Officer, Air Connectivity Program

Mr.Khan is leading the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, as part of Saudi Vision2030, to enhance the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's air connectivity and further accelerate the development of the Kingdom’s tourism potential with the entire tourism and aviation Eco-system. He also held many leadership positions in the aviation sector at Copenhagen Airports, Avinor airports, and recently at IGA Istanbul Airport as Vice President of Aviation Development, leading the COVID-19 traffic recovery with huge success

Participating Talks and Sessions

Antonio Martín-Machuca Alés

Cooperation Manager, Junta de Andalucía

Participating Talks and Sessions

Kate Holsgrove

Chief Commercial & Aviation Officer, Perth Airport

Participating Talks and Sessions

Stuart Morgan

Lead Business Development Manager, Expedia Group Media Solutions

Stuart is the Lead Business Development Manager for Expedia Group Media Solutions and has spent the past seven years working closely with destination and airline partners throughout the Middle East, Indian Ocean and Sub-Saharan subcontinent regions. He is passionate about helping partners improve their visibility and passenger numbers with strong marketing performance. An expert with over 20 years of digital media experience, has worked with The Times (News UK), Time Out, Ahlanlive.com, Masala.com and Lonely Planet, focusing on lifestyle audiences in emerging markets.

Participating Talks and Sessions

Christoph Schnellmann

Chief Executive Officer, Noida International Airport Ltd

Christoph Schnellmann holds the position of Chief Executive Officer at Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), the subsidiary of Zurich Airport International incorporated to design, build and operate Noida International Airport (NIA). 

Christoph has a broad experience of managing airports and airport services across international markets. He has a track record of setting new standards for quality, safety, and efficiency of airport  operations, improving business units’ financial performance and driving corporate transformations.

Christoph has been associated with Zurich Airport since 2007, when he was involved in the opening of Bangalore International Airport, India’s first PPP greenfield airport. In 2013-2015 he served Zurich Airport International on assignment in Kazakhstan, as COO of the Airport Management Group.

Prior to joining NIA, Christoph worked for Swissport International, the world’s largest provider of  ground handling and cargo handling services, with responsibility for the group’s operations at over 100  airports in the EMEA region.

Christoph has worked and travelled across Latin America and the EMEA region. He holds a master’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Zurich.

Participating Talks and Sessions

Vivian Cheung

Acting Chief Executive Officer, Airport Authority Hong Kong

Appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer in June 2024. Director of the Aviation Security Company Limited Board. Holds a Master of Business Administration from Southern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Computer Science from The State University of New York. Mrs Cheung is an alumnus of Stanford University’s Executive Programme. She was appointed Chief Operating Officer in December 2022. Mrs Cheung worked for high-technology companies in New York and Silicon Valley for many years before joining Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) in 1992. With more than 30 years of experience in airport management, she has held a number of senior management positions at AAHK. Mrs Cheung is a Director of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai Airport Management Company Limited and Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Hong Kong Airport Management Co., Ltd. Active in community service, she is a Member of the Town Planning Board and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s Infrastructure Development Advisory Committee.

Participating Talks and Sessions

Rosa Harris

Director of Tourism, Cayman Islands Department of Tourism

Rosa Harris is the Director of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, and a recognized leader in the Caribbean tourism and hospitality sector.

She is a Senior Level Executive with more than 20 years’ experience in management, business leadership, and working with Government Officials, Boards of Directors, Advertising Executives and Tourism Partners.

Director Harris serves on multiple boards and committees which help manage and shape the Cayman Islands’ tourism industry. She is the Chairman of the Public Transportation Board, the Hotel Licensing Board, and the Cayman Islands Hospitality School Council. She also serves as Deputy Chairman of the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame and is a board member of Cayman Airways and the Cayman Islands National Attractions Authority.

She is the immediate past chairman of the Board of Directors for the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), and she was pivotal in reinvigorating the organisation’s mission. Under the Cayman Islands’ tenure, the CTO added three new member countries and hired the first female Secretary-General and CEO for the organisation.

Director Harris has a BSc in Hotel Administration from the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, and a Manchester Global MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School at The University of Manchester.

She was a recipient of the Governor’s Certificate and Badge of Honour in 2022 for her services to the Cayman Islands throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Director Harris is a proud Caymanian, born and raised, and was the first recipient of the Cayman Islands Ministry of Tourism Scholarship.

Participating Talks and Sessions

Luis Felipe De Oliveira

Global Aviation Leader

Luis Felipe de Oliveira has led Airports Council International (ACI) World as Director General from June 2020 till October 2024, applying his vast experience in commercial and technical aviation. He firmly believes that aviation plays a vital role in fostering social and economic growth worldwide. He is dedicated to aiding the whole aviation ecosystem to navigate the evolving dynamics of the aviation landscape. 

Luis Felipe’s career in aviation began with Shell Aviation in Brazil serving the Aviation customers for 12 years in Latin America, Africa and Europe from regional to global roles. After a successful period in Netherlands, he moved to IATA in Geneva, leading fuel, ATC and airport campaigns in collaboration with governments, oil companies, fuel service providers, Air Traffic Management providers and airports for diverse world regions. His service at IATA lasted a decade before joining the World Fuel Services as Vice President of Supply Development for Latin America and Caribbean.

Prior to joining ACI World, Luis Felipe successfully led the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (2017-2020), where he led a complete restructuring of the organization. This enabled the organization to be more effective and efficient, attracting members and strategic partners to support industry development in the region.

He is a Chemical Engineer from Catholic University, Rio de Janeiro, with a postgraduate degree in Finance, University of São Paulo, an MBA from Dom Cabral Foundation, São Paulo, and Post MBA from Kellogg University, Chicago. He is currently enrolled on the Swiss Board School to improve his board experience. 

Passionate about aviation, Luis Felipe is especially committed to the sustainable social and economic development of the industry to fostering collaboration across aviation stakeholders. He serves as an Ambassador at Airlink, an Advisory Board Member at Honeywell (building technologies) and holds Board positions at Cirium and the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG)

Participating Talks and Sessions

Joseph Boschulte

Commissioner, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism

Joseph Boschulte is the Commissioner for the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Commissioner Boschulte brings to the tourism department vast experience in business and in government as well as a track record of improving organizational performance and growth. He formerly served as President and CEO of The West Indian Company Limited (WICO), where he currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Commissioner Boschulte, who earned an MBA from Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, has held high-level positions in transportation, utilities, telecommunications, finance, government development and investment banking.

A strategic team leader, Commissioner Boschulte served as Chief Financial Officer of both the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority and the Government of the Virgin Islands Employees’ Retirement System. He has also chaired the VI Public Services Commission and currently sits on the board of the Virgin Islands Port Authority.
A former Vice President of Institutional Advancement at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) and Executive Director for UVI’s Reichhold Center for the Arts, Commissioner Boschulte previously served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Finance with Wachovia Securities in Atlanta, and Vice President of Banc of America Securities in Charlotte and New York City. Commissioner Boschulte and his wife Aisha are the proud parents of Jaeden and Janae.

Participating Talks and Sessions

Jan Knowles

Vice President, Nassau Airport Development Company (LPIA)

Participating Talks and Sessions

Mark Pilling

Editor, Airline Routes & Ground Services (ARGS)

Participating Talks and Sessions

Edmond Rose

Consulting Director, ASM Global Route Development

Edmond Rose has 25 years of experience in commercial aviation as a senior executive in airlines, in airport slot coordination and as a consultant.

After 11 years in the British diplomatic service, Edmond’s aviation career began with government affairs roles first at Virgin Atlantic Airways and then at British Airways.

As Director of Airline Planning at Virgin Atlantic from 2008 to 2014, Edmond led the fleet and network planning, RM, pricing, alliances, and partnerships & teams. He sponsored the transformation of Virgin’s fleet with new Airbus A330 and Boeing 787 aircraft and led strategy work leading to negotiating and implementing Virgin’s alliance with Delta.

As a consultant, he has carried out business and network planning projects for a variety of airlines from legacy network carriers to LCCs.  He has also worked on airline joint ventures, airport strategy, and slot valuation projects.

Edmond served as CEO of Airport Coordination Limited, the world’s leading slot coordinator, from 2018 to 2021.

Participating Talks and Sessions

Nico Spyrou

Head of Partnerships, Routes

Participating Talks and Sessions

Steven Small

Director Events, Routes

Participating Talks and Sessions