The 8th International Conference on Airline Development "ROUTES 2002", the biggest annual international conference of route development, will be held- for the first time in Greece - during September 22-24 at the Astir Palace Resort, hosted and officially sponsored by Athens International Airport.

Every year, the ROUTES conference attracts a large number of top executives from airlines and airports around the world, as well as a significant number of representatives from all major aviation-related international organisations, such as IATA, ACI, etc.

This leading international meeting offers delegates the opportunity to develop working relationships leading to the establishment of new routes, by exchanging useful information and exploring new business potential.

ROUTES 2002, an international event promoting Athens International Airport and the city of Athens itself, is of special interest to Greece. The Airport Company, host of this year's conference that has attracted the biggest number of participants ever, will have the opportunity to present its competitive advantages and business opportunities to the airlines attending, especially those of the Middle East, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, the areas AIA serves as a connecting node to the whole world.

Furthermore, this year's workshop is of particular significance to Greece in view of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, as the projected additional passenger traffic generated by this leading athletic event, is expected to positively influence and accelerate the airlines' decisions to establish new routes to Athens.

It is worth mentioning this year's impressive participation from China, which may well support the efforts of Greece towards its establishment as the official destination for Chinese tourists.

The event will be attended by more than 130 airlines and 250 airports from around the world.

www.routesonline.com