iGA Istanbul Airport, which proved a fitting host for this year’s Routes World 2023 (15-17 October), has reason to celebrate after this year’s event documented a record number of attendees.
A platform for building connectivity and developing relationships between airlines and airports around the world, this year’s Routes World was held in the Turkish capital, with the airport collaborating with Turkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) as the hosts.
More than 600 senior executives representing approximately 260 airlines as well as more than 3,300 aviation professionals attended the three-day event. More than 13,000 networking meetings took place with attendees also able to make the most of vibrant exhibition stands supported by airports and their local tourism partners as well as insightful conference sessions.
“Observing a wealth of new partnerships forged in just three days and witnessing first-hand the strategic foresight and productivity employed in shaping our industry’s future was truly invaluable,” said Selahattin Bilgen, Acting CEO of iGA Istanbul Airport, reflecting on the successful event. He was joined by iGA Board Member, Mehmet Kalyoncu, who spoke about the necessity and importance of airpots being designed for people and mirroring the essence of cities.
“Every single visitor to iGA Istanbul Airport has personally experienced both the triumphs of our terminal and the substantial enhancements it has ushered into our city’s landscape” said Kalyoncu.
“Besides striving to leave a lasting impression on all passengers who set foot in our airport, we have done our best to improve Istanbul as well. Our location outside the city centre significantly alleviates city traffic, and people no longer face issues such as missing flights due to traffic as much as they used to.”
He also cited the extension of the metro line between the airport and the city centre as being key to enhancing the passenger experience at the airport as well as the 20% decrease in carbon emissions compared to 2019.
In addition, Kalyoncu referenced the efforts that have been made to improve accessibility at the airport. “we strive to take into consideration the expectations of passengers from different segments, such as families with children, passengers over the age of 65, those with reduced mobility, pet owners and international passengers, and we are proud to be able to facilitate the travel experiences of all our guests from different segments.”
During the official handover ceremony to the 2024 host, Bahrain Airports Company, Bilgen reflected on the importance of this year’s event in enabling aviation leaders to plan the future of the industry: “We are aware of how busy the aviation industry is, so we are grateful for this valuable time. This organisation brought representatives from 215 countries and allowed key players in the aviation industry to come together on a global scale. We wish Bahrain all the best as they host Routes World 2024 next eyar, and we thank you for attending Routes World 2023, which has been a huge success.”
