Dublin Airport has won a major global marketing award at the World Routes 2014 conference in Chicago.
Dublin Airport won the World Routes Award for airports that handle between 20 million and 50 million passengers per year. The awards, which are for excellence in marketing by airports, are voted exclusively by airlines worldwide and are divided into just four categories based on airport size.
Dublin Airport defeated the other shortlisted airports nominated in the 20-50 million passengers per year category - Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Munich and Seattle Tacoma – to win the award.
“This is a fantastic achievement,” said Dublin Airport Managing Director, Vincent Harrison. “We’re delighted to have been named the best airport in the world for aviation marketing for airports handling 20-50 million passengers per year. The Routes Awards are decided by our airline customers, and we’re thrilled to have received such a glowing endorsement from them.”
Harrison added that winning the award was “recognition of Dublin Airport’s marketing team’s professionalism and ingenuity to help deliver 7% passenger growth this year, with growth from all airline types and all market sectors.”
Almost 14.6 million passengers used Dublin Airport in the first in the first eight months of this year, which is a 7% increase on the same period in 2013. So far this year, 21 new services have been launched at Dublin, including new long-haul routes to San Francisco, Toronto and St John’s Newfoundland and new short-haul services to a range of continental European and British destinations. Last year, annual passenger numbers at Dublin Airport increased by 6% to 20.2 million.
The 2014 awards were announced last night at the three-day World Routes conference in Chicago, which is being attended by 3,000 delegates, representing 300 airlines, 800 airports and 200 tourism authorities.
Dublin Airport has more than 40 high level meetings scheduled at the conference, which is effectively a speed dating event for airlines and airports from all over the world. “We’re here to talk to both new and existing customers about growing their business at Dublin Airport with new routes and additional frequency on existing services,” Mr Harrison said.
In total, four airports and one national tourism agency picked up prizes at last night’s event. The overall 2014 Routes Award winner was Brussels Airport, which also won the 4 million to 20 million passenger category.
Created in 1997 to recognise excellence in airport marketing as rewarded by airlines, the annual Routes Awards provide the airline community with the chance to have their say as to which airport they think provides the best overall marketing services to them.
The shortlist for the awards is compiled from votes cast by marketing and network development representatives from airlines worldwide. The winner is decided by a judging panel of senior airline figures.
