With a little over 2 months until World Routes opens in Chicago, our programme of Route Exchange Airline Briefings continues to grow, with now fourteen airlines confirmed to deliver a briefing at this year’s event.

The Route Exchange Airline Briefings, delivered by senior network planners, are an opportunity for attending airports to gain an overview of the carriers, allowing them to view, first-hand, what information the airline requires from the airports when making route proposals.

A wide variety of carriers from across the globe have already confirmed that they will deliver a briefing outlining the route development opportunities that exist and how airports can be part of their airline expansion. Here we provide you with a brief overview of what to expect from each of the sessions:

• easyJet - One of the world’s greatest airline success stories, easyJet plan to outline their future fleet and how their product strategy continues to evolve, helping them to grow
• Finnair - A new leisure strategy in Europe, more points in Asia and a growing cargo operation, but what’s next for east meets west?
• Condor (Thomas Cook Airlines Group) -One year on from merging their airline operations, how has their network changed? Where next? And how can airports continue to engage with one of the world’s most innovate holiday airlines.
• Iberia Airlines - With a new director of network planning in tow, how do Iberia Airlines intend to develop and maintain profitability?
• Etihad Airways – Their equity alliance model continues to grow as do their profits, but what’s next for Etihad Airways
• CEBU Pacific - Set for a growth spurt? CEBU Pacific is said to be considering potential new destinations in Europe and the West Coast of the United States and evaluating new aircraft.
• AirAsia - Operatingthe first airline with foreign investment to operate in India, AirAsia India is expected to begin operations before World Routes 2014. Expect an update and possible news of the group’s position on returning to Europe.
• Interjet – They recently shelved their IPO plans but how will Mexico's second-largest airline fight back as Mexico City’s airport reaches its traffic limit? In addition, the delays triggered by the congestion there are creating “very significant” cost increases.
• Virgin Atlantic Airways – It’s been 30 years since Sir Richard Branson took Virgin Atlantic’s inaugural flight across the Atlantic and it has been a big year for the airline. So how is life after their merger with Singapore Airlines? And how is the Delta Airlines joint venture shaping the future of their network and customer service proposition.
• Air New Zealand – Entering their 75^th year of service and having reported their largest ever profits. Air New Zealand is expected to be flying their 787-9 by the start of World Routes 2014. Expect a detailed overview of the fleet plan expected to secure a profitable future.
• Air India – Jeffrey Goh, COO, Star Alliance, said Air India is now a totally different airline: "It has made significant improvements in fleet renewal, customer initiatives and is free from industrial strife." How will membership of Star Alliance ensure a robust future for Air India?
• Flynas – lead by ex AirAsia start-up board member Raja Azmi, Flynas is currently in an impressive growth spurt and making waves in Europe, but what’s next? and is an IPO on the horizon?

Places in these briefings are limited and airport delegates should use the online meeting requests system to request a place at one of the airline briefings. New for this year, we have created a step- by-step guide of the scheduling process on our website, which will make requesting your place on one of the above briefings as easy as possible.

Keep reading The HUB for further updates and click here to register now for World Routes 2014.