Shannon Group CEO Matthew Thomas, Shannon Airport Head of Aviation Development Declan Power and Shannon Airport Managing Director Andrew Murphy celebrating Shannon’s ‘five-in-a-row’ at the World Routes Marketing awards in Barcelona overnight.
Shannon Airport completed five-in-a-row by winning highly commended in the ‘Best Marketing of Airports’ awards for airports under 4m passengers at the World Routes Marketing Awards, at a ceremony at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona.
Shannon was behind Nuremburg Airport and the only Irish airport to feature among this year’s award winners.
Shannon won the outright award in both 2016 and 2014 and was also ‘Highly Commended’ in 2015 and 2013, its inaugural year as an independent entity. Airline professionals nominate the airports and destinations that provide outstanding support during the launch of new air routes or the development of existing services. Senior airline executives judged the airport and destination categories.
The World Routes Marketing awards recognise new air route successes from around the planet, Airports are nominated on the basis of exceptional marketing supports during the launch of new routes or the strengthening of existing services.
The winners of the World Routes 2017 Marketing Awards. (PRNewsfoto/Routes)
Vancouver International Airport was announced the overall winner. Vancouver is North America’s fastest-growing international airport, increasing at nearly twice the average rate. Last year passenger numbers increased by 9.7pc to 22.3 million, putting the airport on track to surpass its goal of 25m passengers by 2020. Eight new routes were launched and 10 new airlines were gained in existing markets.
A panel of executives from the wider aviation industry reviewed the award for individuals. This year a new category was introduced to celebrate the individuals who make an outstanding contribution to route development. Léon Verhallen, Brussels Airport’s head of aviation development, won the award for helping to secure six new airlines and 17 new destinations in the last year, including routes to Shanghai (Hainan Airlines) and Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific).
The World Routes Marketing Awards are one of the leading events in the aviation industry. Vancouver was also honoured in the ’20-50 Million Passengers’ category, while Nuremberg Airport won ‘Under 4 Million Passengers’; Prague Airport won ‘4 Million-20 Million Passengers’; Singapore Changi Airport won ‘Over 50m Passengers’ and Canary Islands Tourist Board won the ‘Destination’ award.
Léon said: “This is a very special award for me. It’s my 30th year working in aviation, but this has only been possible because of the teams I have worked with. I spent many years in Amsterdam and the past 13 years in the Brussels team. I am proud to have worked with such amazing people.
“I was at the birth of the aviation marketing and since then the industry has come such a long way; you only have to look at the quality of people in the room here tonight.”
Steven Small, brand director of Routes, presented the awards. He said: “Congratulations to all of our winners who have impressed the judges with their achievements. The awards evening has been a brilliant way to bring the aviation industry together to celebrate success.”
The Government of Catalonia and Barcelona City Council hosted World Routes 2017 for 2,600 delegates from the global aviation industry.
Shannon saw new services from three airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Lufthansa and Norwegian Air International starting over the past 12 months.
A fortnight ago also when Shannon Airport celebrated a double announcement, of new services by Air Canada to Toronto and Ryanair to Barcelona-Reus.
Shannon Airport Managing Director Andrew Murphy said: “being on the podium five years in a row is great achievement by any standards. This is a huge global industry event and for Shannon to be up there year on year sends a very positive message to airlines that Shannon is an excellent airport to do business with.”
Head of Aviation Development for Shannon Airport Declan Power said: “After last year’s success, getting on the shortlist alone this year was going to be a challenge but being one of only two airports chosen from that shortlist in such a competitive category speaks volumes about what we do. This is a hugely competitive category as the smaller airports have to fight harder and this shows that Shannon fights very hard, which is essential for Shannon and essential for the region.”
Shannon Group CEO Matthew Thomas said, “These awards are the most prestigious in the industry and to be recognised by the world’s leading airlines at this level five-years-in-a-row clearly shows that what Shannon Airport does for its airline partners registers very loud and clear with them and at the very highest level. We can be very proud of this but our goal now is to stay right up there and the only way we can do that is by being unrelenting in our pursuit of the very highest standards.”
Individual Award for Outstanding Contribution to Route Development
- Léon Verhallen, Brussels Airport (winner)
Under 4m Passengers Award
- Nuremberg Airport (winner)
- Shannon Airport (highly commended)
4-20m Passengers Award
- Prague Airport (winner)
- Naples International Airport (highly commended)
20-50m Passengers Award
- Vancouver International Airport (winner)
- Munich Airport (highly commended)
Over 50m Passengers Award
- Singapore Changi Airport (winner)
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (highly commended)
Destination Award
- Canary Islands Tourist Board (winner)
- Tenerife Tourism Corporation (highly commended)
- More information is available at routesonline.com
