PRESS RELEASE: Cape Town Airport wins Routes Africa Marketing Awards

Karen O'Neill June 28, 2016

The annual Routes Marketing Awards recognise excellence in airport and destination marketing. Airlines vote for the marketing services that support the successful launch of new routes or the development of existing ones, making them highly regarded in the aviation industry.

Cape Town Airport’s passenger numbers grew by 10 percent to just under 9.7million in 2015. The impressive growth is expected to continue this year and the airport is in a strong position to reach the 10 million passenger milestone.

The airport has a major capital investment programme (subject to regulatory approval) which includes the realignment of its runway at a cost of over R3 billion to allow it to handle larger aircraft. Other developments include a new domestic arrivals terminal and an extended international departure lounge.

The Western Cape is a vibrant province that boasts above average economic growth compared to South Africa and the rest of Africa. “This growth is not only attributable to the inherent attractions of the province, the resourcefulness and ingenuity of its citizens and its well-positioned growth sectors, but also to its access to global markets,” said a Cape Town International Airport official.

The awards, which are voted for exclusively by airlines, are split into three categories. Cape Town Airport was also named the winner of the over 4 million passengers category; Abidjan Port Bouet Airport won the under 4 million passengers category; and Seychelles Tourism Board topped the Destination Marketing category.

As overall winner, Cape Town Airport will be automatically shortlisted for the World Routes Awards in Chengdu, China on 26 September 2016. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Auckland Airport and Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board are also shortlisted from previous regional wins at the Routes Europe, Routes Asia and Routes Americas events.

Adrian Newton, group director of UBM EMEA, who presented the awards, said: “We’re delighted to mark the achievements of all of our nominated airports and destinations in this regional heat of the Routes Marketing Awards. Year-on-year we are impressed by the calibre of the submissions.”

The award was collected on behalf of the airport by ACI Africa’s secretary general, Ali Tounsi.

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Notes to Editors

Image L-R: ACI Africa, secretary general, Ali Tounsi and Adrian Newton, Group Director, Aviation & Technology, UBM EMEA.

A respected panel of judges made up of senior members of the airline network planning community reviewed airline nominations and submissions from the nominated airports in order to determine the winners.

The panel consisted of the following experts:

Girma Shiferaw, Ethiopian Airlines
Richard Bodin, fastjet
Matome Ramokgobedi, South African Airways

The full list of companies shortlisted under each award category were as follows:

Overall Winner
Cape Town International Airport

Over 4 Million Passengers
Accra Kotoka International Airport
Cairo International Airport
Cape Town International Airport - WINNER
Durban King Shaka International Airport
Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

Under 4 Million Passengers
Abidjan Port Bouet Airport - WINNER
Harare International Airport
Libreville Leon M'ba International Airport
Mauritius Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport
Seychelles International Airport

Destination Award
Côte d'Ivoire Tourisme
Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority
Seychelles Tourism Board - WINNER
Tourism KZN

About Routes

Routes events are unique forums dedicated to the development of new air services. Five ‘regional’ route development forums are held between February and June in the Americas, Asia, Europe and Africa, with the flagship World Routes event taking place in September. routesonline.com

The events revolve around pre-scheduled meetings and an exhibition and conference which are delivered in partnership with host stakeholders. Hosts tend to be a collaboration between airports, tourism authorities and investment partners (the bidding process takes place two to three years before the event takes place).