A delegation from Guangzhou paid a visit to London on Aug 16 to promote World Routes 2018, an event dubbed the Olympics of the civil aviation industry.

The southern Chinese city will host World Routes 2018 and the 24th World Route Development Forum from Sept 15 to 18. Representatives and officials from airlines, airports, governments and tourism departments will gather in Guangzhou to talk about airline and air service development opportunities on a global scale.

A Boeing 787 passenger plane flying the direct route between Guangzhou and London stops at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]

This year's World Route Development Forum will be hosted by the Guangdong Airport Authority, the operator of the third busiest airport in China - Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Around 3,000 of the most senior decision makers from 300 airlines, 700 airports and 130 tourism authorities are expected to attend the event. 

It will be a rare opportunity to promote Guangzhou and the Guangzhou Airport Economic Zone as investors from airlines and aviation maintenance and manufacturing companies across the world will be able to gain a close understanding of Guangzhou's urban construction and industrial development. The events will also further promote international exchanges and cooperation, and increase Guangzhou's global exposure and international influence, according to a representative of the Guangzhou Airport Economic Zone.

In recent years, Guangzhou has accelerated the expansion of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, and significantly enhanced its function. At present, the airport's network reaches 220 destinations around the world, with more than 300 routes, including 157 international ones.

Last year, passenger throughput at the city's airport exceeded 65 million, an increase of 10.2 percent year on year and ranking 13th in the world, of which international passenger throughput was 15.89 million, up 17.6 percent year on year and accounting for 24 percent of total passengers. Cargo and mail throughput reached 1.78 million, an increase of 7.9 percent year on year.

An aerial view of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]  

Echoing the Belt and Road Initiative, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has teamed up with major airlines to focus on international business and invest more in international routes. Since 2016, it has opened 60 new such routes, connecting Guangzhou with another 23 foreign destinations including Helsinki in Finland, Toronto in Canada, Mexico City in Mexico and Rome in Italy. The route network of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport also currently includes 48 cities in the 29 countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.