Aena and Turespaña host the III Air Connectivity Conference in Gran Canaria

This event, whose previous editions took place in Valencia and Seville, brings together numerous leaders from the airline and tourism sector. The fundamental objective is to analyze the upcoming challenges facing the industry, as well as to publicize how new routes are planned and developed by airlines and to highlight the importance of joint work and collaboration between all the agents involved. in promoting air connectivity and the sustainable development of tourism.

The official inauguration was carried out by the president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales. Next, Ignacio Biosca, director of Data and Aeronautical Market of Aena, and Miguel Sanz, general director of Turespaña, presented the Conference. The meeting was attended by more than a hundred participants in person.

“This meeting will allow us to establish a dialogue between the different points of view, both public and private, about the framework and limitations that determine air connectivity for our island territories,” said Antonio Morales, before adding: “Improve the Connectivity is to renew the experience of our visitors and their bond with the island. And at the same time it should commit us to reflect on the need that success cannot continue to be counted in millions of arrivals but rather in a greater rewarding life experience that generates a longer average stay and greater spending at the destination. An objective that must be linked to the achievement of sustainable and fair mobility.”

The Minister of Tourism of Gran Canaria, Carlos Álamo, recalled that Gran Canaria is more and better connected than ever, with a record number of passengers of 14 million, counting round trips; 270 routes, directly connected to 151 destinations and with the presence of 54 companies at the Gran Canaria airport. “For us, the ultimate objective of this industry is the turnover and the benefits that this industry generates for society, on which nearly 40% of Gran Canarian residents directly depend. We are looking for a quality tourist with higher spending, which allows us to distribute the wealth generated by this industry in all the municipalities of the Island. We now have an average spending per client of 1.460,75 euros, 9% higher than last year. But we have to understand that without a commitment to comfortable and direct routes, with being better connected every day, all this would be impossible. It is becoming easier and more comfortable to fly to Gran Canaria and the bet that the airlines are making is important. We are islands in the Atlantic and we depend on connectivity,” explained Carlos Álamo. 

 

The program of this event began with a table on the situation of the sector, in which both Ignacio Biosca and Miguel Sanz, together with Sergio Fernández, director for Europe of Airports, Passengers, Air Cargo and Security of the International Air Transport Association ( IATA), and Manuel Panadero, vice president of the Association of Airlines (ALA), presented the scenario of air connectivity in Spain and the perspectives of the industry. 

 

Several airline presentations followed: Air Baltic appeared presenting the establishment of new operating bases; Wizz Air showed the implementation of strategic development projects for an airline company; Vueling, Iberia, Iberia Express and Air Nostrum, from the IAG group, presented the development of an airline group's network; and EasyJet offered future perspectives and opportunities for Spain. 

Likewise, an airline working group was developed in which Binter, Air Europa, Jet2, SAS and Play participated. In it, they highlighted the key elements necessary in destinations to achieve air connectivity development opportunities. 

The event, which lasted all day, also included, as a case study, the successful experience of the Gran Canaria destination. Pablo Llinares, managing director of Tourism of Gran Canaria, explained the work methods followed in the search and attraction of tourists, as well as the results obtained.

The closing of the Conference was carried out by Felipe Formariz, deputy general director of Strategy and Service to the tourism sector of Turespaña, who presented the main conclusions of both the professional presentations and the round tables and networking spaces, with a summary of what learned. 

 

This meeting aims to act as a catalyst for collaboration between the different agents involved in the development of air connectivity, a key factor for the evolution of the tourism sector in Spain.

In an environment as complex and competitive as air connectivity, it is very important to provide all those involved with useful and practical information that stimulates the creation of routes, since it is essential for attracting tourists and, therefore, decisive for the final results of an activity of enormous weight in the Spanish economy.

The added value generated by collaboration between destinations, airlines and airports can be the differentiating element in an industry where competitiveness is increasingly greater and more global.