Catalonia will once again host the World Routes event, ten years after the 2017 edition. The event aims to boost Barcelona's connectivity strategy, combining international projection with a complementary airport system, intermodality, and a sustainable development model.
Manel Nadal, Secretary for Mobility and Infrastructure, highlighted that such events serve as a springboard for new destinations, particularly in Asia, promoting the city and country to establish new direct connections.
Raquel Gil, Deputy Mayor for Social Rights, Economic Promotion, Employment, Feminisms, and Democratic Memory of the Barcelona City Council, emphasized that hosting World Routes 2027 will attract more businesses, generate quality employment, and improve intercontinental connectivity, reinforcing the city's economic diversification.
Arantxa Calvera, Director of the Catalan Tourism Agency, noted that international connectivity is key to transitioning from a volume-based model to a value-based one, attracting conscious travelers and strengthening high-value activities like international congresses.
Steven Small, Vice President of Air Transport Events Informa, recalled that the 2017 Barcelona edition was a record success and expressed enthusiasm for returning to the city, highlighting Barcelona's strategic vision to attract higher-value routes with greater economic and sustainable impact.
Eva Valenzuela, director of Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, emphasized that the airport's connectivity benefits citizens, as nearly half of passengers are Catalan residents, reinforcing its role as a strategic infrastructure.
Josep Santacreu, president of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the news, noting that Barcelona has one of Europe's best-connected airports and is actively expanding its intercontinental routes, with events like this strengthening its position as an international destination and a hub for business.
In the last decade, Barcelona-El Prat Airport has increased its direct intercontinental connections by 88%, from 33 to 62, establishing itself as one of Europe's fastest-growing airports for long-haul routes.
The hosting of this fair is part of the Strategic Plan 2026-2030 of the Committee for the Development of Air Routes (CDRA), aiming to intensify connections with key intercontinental markets, particularly Asia-Pacific and the United States.
Currently, over 5.3 million passengers travel between Catalonia and international markets with connecting flights, indicating a solid demand that justifies new direct routes, especially to the United States, Asia-Pacific, China, South America, and Japan.
This connectivity is crucial for the internationalization of Catalan companies. According to a study by the University of Barcelona and the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, the airport generates 6.8% of Catalonia's GDP and over 218,000 jobs, with a significant impact on sectors like tourism, logistics, and research. Barcelona also leads Spain in international congresses.
With World Routes 2027, Catalonia aims to enhance its international profile and consolidate a connectivity strategy that fosters competitiveness, territorial cohesion, and sustainable economic development, generating greater economic, social, and territorial value.
