Three More Airlines Use Routesonline to Launch RFP to Airports

MANCHESTER, England, August 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Route Exchange, the online platform for air service development, is delighted to announce three new Request for Proposals (RFPs) from airlines looking at using the facility to support their network growth.

Details of the RFPs are outlined below, all due to commence between August 20^th and September 3^rd.

SAUDIA

Recently re-branded Saudia, now part of the Skyteam Alliance, will launch its Request for Proposal from September 3^rd. Looking at designated markets from Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudia has a number of long-range aircraft entering the fleet which will be used for new route development. This is a significant opportunity for airports on a global basis.

MINOAN AIR

Minoan Air is looking to fly unserved routes within the EU with its fleet of Fokker 50 aircraft. Minoan will be very interested to speak with airports that can prove market potential from their airports.

RAF-AVIA

RAF-Avia today announced their interest in the European and Nordic markets via the Route Exchange. From the 20^th August, airports registered with the Route Exchange will have access to the Formal Request for Proposal document, detailing RAF-Avia's desire to develop their network in these markets.

Jelena Rigere, Commercial Director from RAF-Avia, explains: "I have chosen to announce our interest in the European and Nordic markets via the Route Exchange and to request proposals via the online Request for Proposals platform because of the reach of airports Routes has access to. Being able to compare the proposals airports submit on a like-for-like basis helps us to determine the operational and commercial viability of operating at each airport. This is paramount to the success of our commercial planning and key to developing our customer proposition."

In a further development, US low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways became the latest carrier to agree to launch an RFP via the Route Exchange platform, details of which are to be released shortly.

Declan Maguire, Business Development Manager for Route Exchange, stated: "We are delighted to welcome a further three airlines into the Route Exchange RFP process. Saudia, Minoan and RAF-Avia all have a clear focus on who they wish to target and Route Exchange will allow them to gather crucial information and data from their target airports in order to make key decisions about their future planning. They join CEBU Pacific, Aer Lingus, Scoot, IndiGo and Air Asia X as airlines who have successfully used this unique platform and we plan to announce many more in the near future."

Once airports have met the terms of the Prequalifying Questionnaire (PQQ), they will be sent the formal RFP where they can complete a pre-defined data requirements and a proposal document. The airlines will then analyse the submissions before scheduling meetings with potential new airport partners at World Routes, 29^th September - 2^nd October this year in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Notes to Editors

About Routes

• Routes organises world-renowned airline and airport networking events through its regional and global Route Development Forums. Each year, there is one global event and one regional event in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and CIS respectively. http://www.routesonline.com
  
• These events are supported by an online route development forum hosted on our website, Routesonline. The site provides airports with the ability to promote their market opportunities and acts as the airline industry's central source of market data and route development information.
  
• Integrated into Routesonline is the Route Exchange area which is the online platform for air service development. Airlines can actively campaign their target airports through this unique platform.
  
• Previous RFPs through the Route Exchange have included Air Asia X, Scoot, IndiGo, Aer Lingus and Cebu Pacific.
  
• Routes was founded in 1995 as part of the Manchester UK-based ASM Ltd., a consultancy specialising in the field of route development for airports. http://www.asm-global.com
  
• Routes and ASM were acquired by UBM Aviation Worldwide Ltd in August 2010.  Routes is a UBM Live brand.

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SOURCE UBM Aviation Routes Ltd