Page 38 - World Airnews Magazine October Edition 2020

NEWS

AIRLINE CEOS

hief executives from some of

Cthe world’s leading airlines will

be in attendance at Routes Reconnected
to discuss the long-term impacts of the
COVID-19 pandemic on their business
models and how they intend to rebuild
passenger demand.
In open and frank discussions, industry
heavyweights including board director
and chief executive officer Air France-

KLM group Ben Smith, Wizz Air CEO József
Váradi, KLM president and CEO Pieter
Elbers, Avianca CEO Anko van der Werff,

airBaltic CEO Martin Gauss, Air Astana CEO
Peter Foster, and Stefan Pichler president

and chief executive officer Royal Jordanian Wizz Air CEO
will address the week-long hybrid event, József Váradi
that will take place from 30 November - 4
December 2020.
As the leading group in terms of intercon-

tinental traffic on departure from Europe,

the Air France-KLM group is a major global
air transport player. Having steered the Sky-
Team alliance members through the worst
of the crisis, Ben Smith and Pieter Elbers
are focused on rebuilding the airline’s

balanced global network and reasserting its
place in the market.
With plans to double passenger numbers

to 80 million by 2025, Wizz Air has contin-
ued to expand rapidly despite the disrup-

tion that corona virus has brought. Under
József Váradi’s leadership, the Hungarian
low-cost carrier has announced more than
200 new routes over the last six months, Peter Foster, Air Astana CEO
opened a string of new bases, and launched
a start-up in Abu Dhabi.

Latvia’s airBaltic connects the Baltic siderations and actions that airlines must big-name industry speakers. Association
region with over 60 destinations in Europe, take to rebuild from the crisis. leaders including ACI world director general,

the Middle East, and the CIS. Martin Gauss Steven Small, brand director at Routes Luis Felipe de Oliveira, IATA regional vice

expects measures taken by the airline, said, “By uniting leaders from across the president Americas Peter Cerda and WTTC’s

including the reduction of capacity and sphere of aviation, we can help to shape SVP, membership and commercial, Maribel

costs will mean the carrier is in an excellent the collective industry action that must be Rodriguez will outline how aviation stake-
position to fully redeploy its A220-300 fleet taken to stimulate the recovery. holders can work collaboratively to develop

as the market recovers. “Over 30 hours of live and on-demand networks that create long-term economic

Despite effective debt reprofiling in 2019 content at Routes Reconnected will provide benefit and positive local impacts.
and the successful execution of its “Avianca unmatched insight, inform future business More than 115 airlines and 275 airports

2021” plan through mid-March, Colombia’s strategies and the recovery plans of the and destinations are expected to attend

Avianca was forced to file for voluntary pe- global route development community.” Routes Reconnected, both physically and

titions under Chapter 11 in May due to the Routes Reconnected will bring together virtually, to engage in conversations that will

impact of the pandemic. Anko van der Werff the world’s aviation community to tackle the go on to rebuild the world’s air services.

will outline the carrier’s turnaround plan and impact of COVID-19 and develop strategies The hybrid event will support the airlines,
recovery strategy during the conference. that will support the industry’s recovery. airports and destinations in navigating

Royal Jordanian has been an essential This five-day event will consist of three vir- and adapting to the new market patterns,

part of the country’s economy, contributing tual days of meetings, on-demand content regulations and business practices that are

3% of the national GDP. With extensive and virtual networking opportunities, as emerging in the post-pandemic era.

experience in leadership roles across the well as two full days of in-person meetings To view the full list of speakers or to

aviation and tourism sectors, Stefan Pichler at the Hilton, Amsterdam Schiphol airport. find out more about Routes Reconnected,

is well placed to outline the financial con- The airline CEOs join a strong line-up of please visit Routesonline.com. Q

World Airnews | October 2020
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