CEO-packed conference line-up at Routes Silk Road

Taking place on 15-17 July 2019 in Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan, the Routes Silk Road conference programme will feature talks and panel discussions by senior industry experts, including airline CEOs and airline C-suite speakers.

CEO keynote interviews will take place, featuring Tewolde GebreMariam, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines; and Thomas Hallam, Chief Executive Officer of Somon Air. Each CEO will discuss their airline’s future network and growth plans, and give a unique insight into their area of the industry and major issues affecting their market. Tim Jordan, Chief Executive Officer of FlyArystan will also take part in a session on the future of LCC development, discussing whether the current mode of operating is sustainable in the long-term and how they plan to offer low prices but remain profitable.

A further four C-suite speakers will take part in panel debates on a wide range of topics. Alma Aliguzhinova, Chief Planning Officer at Air Astana, Dilhan Haradasa, Group Head of Airport Partnerships and Incentives at AirAsia Group and Nevzat Arsan, Chief Commercial Officer at AtlasGlobal will take to the stage to discuss connecting the East to the West and whether the CIS region could compete with European or Middle Eastern hubs. While Michael Whitehead, Senior Adviser to the CEO, Air Astana will take part in a panel discussion on air cargo development and how airport infrastructure fits into the “One belt – One road” initiative.

Respected trade organisations, Airport Council International (ACI) and The International Air Transport Association (IATA) will be taking part in the Routes Silk Road conference programme. Patti Chau, Regional Director, ACI Asia-Pacific will be giving a market overview, Michel Adam, Senior Manager Aviation Environment at IATA, will introduce IATA’s Carbon Offsetting Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and a sustainable future for aviation. While Ruslan Sarin, IATA’s Assistant Manager Campaigns for Central Asia, will be briefing event delegates on the latest innovations in technology, including passenger data collections and the implementation of biometrics in airports.

Steven Small, Brand Director of Routes said “We are excited to take Routes Silk Road to Kazakhstan for the first time. Nur-Sultan is the modern capital of a fast-growing country that has seen rapid economic development, and we are sure that hosting Routes Silk Road 2019 will further help them to achieve their objectives.”

Routes Silk Road will take place on 15-17 July 2019 in Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana), Kazakhstan. Air Astana will be the official carrier for the event, offering reduced fares for delegates. View the full list of speakers and the conference programme.