South African Airways (SAA) official carrier for World Routes Durban 2015 in a world first
JOHANNESBURG. 20 September 2015. South African Airways is the official carrier for this year’s World Routes event, which - for the first time in its history spanning 21 years - will be hosted in Africa.
World Routes is an annual global event where route development professionals in the airline, airports and tourism and government stakeholder industries meet to plan and discuss new and existing global air services. It is the largest global annual event of its kind and attracts attendees from over 110 countries.
“As the leading airline on the African continent we are pleased to be partnering with KZN Tourism as the official carrier of delegates attending this high profile, international gathering, an honour which further serves as testimony to SAA’s premier standing in the global aviation industry,” said Sylvain Bosc, SAA Chief Commercial Officer.
World Routes 2015 takes place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal from 19 – 22 September. In attendance will be up to 2,500 total delegates including 230 airlines, almost 700 airports, 150 tourism authorities from 115 countries, including high profile individuals such as tourism and transport ministers, chief executives of airlines, airports and tourism marketing organisations, as well as experts and media practitioners in these allied business disciplines.
Michael Mabuyakhulu, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Minister of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, said: “As the province, the country and the African continent, we are ready to deliver the best World Routes Summit, as the first ever to be held on the African continent. There could be no better coincidence than this one where the country marks its 21st anniversary since embracing democracy and that KZN will be celebrating the 21st World Routes.
“This is a good time for the world to sample the province’s diverse market offerings such as investment options and tourism attractions. Delegates will be able to see how KZN developed and built an aerotropolis, the Dube Trade Port, with King Shaka International Airport as an anchor facility, into an aviation inspired industrial hub.
“We are not only providing world class facilities for intercontinental passenger travel for tourists and business visitors, but the province is a gateway to international trade through its advanced sea-ports in Durban and Richards Bay,” said Mabuyakhulu.
UBM, a global events-led marketing and communications services business, is the event organisers.
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Issued by: SAA Group Corporate Affairs
About South African Airways:
South African Airways (SAA) is the leading carrier in Africa, serving 56 destinations, in partnership with SA Express, SA Airlink and its low cost carrier, Mango, within South Africa and across the continent, and nine intercontinental routes from its Johannesburg hub. It is a member of the largest international airline network, Star Alliance. SAA’s core business is the provision of passenger airline and cargo transport services together with related services, which are provided through SAA and its wholly owned subsidiaries: SAA Technical; Mango its low cost carrier; and Air Chefs, the catering entity of SAA. SAA is the winner of the 'Best Airline in Africa’ Award in the regional category for thirteen consecutive years and the winner of ‘Service Excellence Africa’ for three years. Mango and SAA hold the number one and number two successive spots as South Africa’s most on - time airlines.
For media information, please contact:
SAA Spokesperson
Tlali Tlali
Email: TlaliTlali@flysaa.com
Mobile:+27 82 333 3880
Office: +27 11 978 2298
Web: www.flysaa.com