Major Aviation Event “Routes World” Held in Hong Kong for the First Time

AAHK Signs Two Agreements on Enhancing Connectivity and Collaboration with Aviation Partners

(Hong Kong, 25 September 2025, 1630hrs) – Routes World, a major global aviation event, has commenced its annual gathering at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) today, the first time this prestigious occasion is held in Hong Kong. The event serves as a pivotal platform for global air network planners to explore new opportunities for closer collaborations in establishing flight routes. And HKIA took the opportunity to sign two memorandums of understanding with PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia and Wuhan Tianhe International Airport.

The year’s event, its 30th edition, welcomes around 2,000 delegates from over 115 countries around the world. Participants include decision makers from airlines and airports. The event presents a valuable opportunity for professionals in the global aviation industry to gain insights into the latest developments in Hong Kong and the airport itself, positioning the airport as a central hub for future growth and connectivity.

Officiating guests of the opening ceremony include Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government; Fred Lam, Chairman of Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK); Vivian Cheung, Chief Executive Officer of AAHK; Michael Duck, Executive Vice-President, Commercial Development of Informa Markets; and Steven Small, Managing Director of Routes.

Fred Lam, Chairman of Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), remarked at the ceremony that, “Your presence here showcases the strong support of Hong Kong as a major aviation hub in the region. At this conference, our aim is to work with you to capture the opportunities Hong Kong presents to you, in three areas in particular: how you may leverage our infrastructure, ride on our connectivity in the region, and benefit from our innovative service, so that you may extend your network, grow your business, and serve more passengers. I hope you will join us in unlocking the business potential in this very promising market.”

Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of HKSAR Goverment, remarked, “The world is changing rapidly, with geopolitics reshaping global economic dynamics and patterns of passenger travel. Hong Kong’s role as a gateway to the Mainland will only grow stronger. In this connection, we are not only reinforcing ties with traditional partners in Europe and North America, but also expanding our network across the Global South, including ASEAN, the Middle East, Central Asia and Latin America. We are actively working to introduce new destinations and increase flight frequencies with emerging markets, particularly for long-haul routes.”

Steven Small, Managing Director of Routes, said, “This year marks three decades of our business uniting decision makers from the global route development community. Hong Kong's vibrant business environment, tourism appeal, and significant infrastructure developments make it the perfect backdrop for this milestone gathering. With decision-makers from over 250 of the world's leading and fastest-growing airlines in attendance, this event underscores Hong Kong's pivotal role as a global aviation hub and our commitment to driving industry growth, innovation, and collaboration."

The three-day function receives delegates from all over the world. Exhibitions, forums and networking events will be held, where decision makers and key stakeholders from the industry will exchange ideas and discuss various topics, such as airline cooperation, strategies for smoothing seasonality effects, and other aspects of the aviation industry’s future development. They will also explore opportunities in Hong Kong, as well as new air connections with HKIA.

During the event, AAHK exchanged two signed Memorandums of Understanding with aviation partners from Indonesia and the city of Wuhan. The one signed between AAHK and PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia, which manages more than 30 airports in Indonesia, paves the way for strengthening cooperation in areas including enhancing air connectivity; advancing operational excellence and service enhancements for both parties by actively exploring collaboration opportunities; and collaborating in the field of human capital development, among others.

The other Memorandum of Understanding was signed between AAHK and Wuhan Tianhe International Airport managed by Hubei Airports Group. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas including enhancing regular information exchange, management experience sharing, professional training, project collaboration, marketing collaborations, as well as route development between Wuhan and Hong Kong.