As the largest global annual gathering of aviation organizations from the world, the World Routes, launched in 1995 by the British United Business Media （UBM）, brings together representatives of airlines, airports, as well as tourism and civil aviation authorities.

Standing out from lots of strong rivals including Paris and Seoul, Chengdu was chosen to host the event due to its overall security capacity and great development potential, aviation industry sources said.

A host city for the event must be competitive enough in such aspects as economic development and future potential, degree of openness to the outside world, and international outlook, according to Katie Bland, director of Routes at UBM Live.

Katie noted that China, in the new context of global economic development, is an important driving force for the global economic recovery and sustainable development. Chengdu, primary city of Sichuan and one of the forerunners of reform and opening up to the outside world in inland China, is attracting increasing attention from all over the world. Currently, the civil aviation industry is one of the most powerful industries to boost regional economic growth. The World Routes can help a host city improve its airline network and infrastructure, and promote its development in global economic and business exchange and cooperation.

Chengdu hosted the Routes Asia 2012 and Airport Cities Asia Pacific Conference and Exhibition 2015, significantly expanding its opening up and international exchange and partnership, and upgrading its global/regional route network. Before the Routes Asia 2012, there were only more than 30 international/regional routes between Chengdu and other cities across the world. After that, direct air services to cities including San Francisco, London, Melbourne, Paris, Moscow, and Frankfurt have sprung up one after another.

By the end of August, Chengdu has launched 89 international/regional routes, and offered air service to 74 destinations in North America, Europe, Middle East, Oceania and Asia, topping all central and western cities in China.

Currently, the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is under construction and will be put into operation in 2020, which will make Chengdu the third city on the Chinese mainland to have double airports after Beijing and Shanghai. By 2025, it will be able to handle 40 million passengers, 700,000-ton cargo, as well as 320,000 takeoffs and landings annually.

Positioned as China's fourth state-level international aviation hub, the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is expected to help Chengdu open more international/regional routes and boost the city's appeal to investors from all over the world.

While strengthening its air transportation capacity, Chengdu is making greatest efforts to develop its rail and road traffic networks, and manufacturing, logistics and service industries.

Positioned as a national major city in China by the State Council, China's cabinet, Chengdu is aimed to be an important center of economy, science and technology, cultural innovation, and international exchange, as well as a comprehensive traffic hub in western China.

Having been convened successively in Abu Dhabi, London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dubai, and Vancouver, etc., the World Routes is aimed to provide an unrivaled platform for route development professionals to discuss, develop and plan route strategies, and present unlimited business and networking opportunities the route development community.

The World will offer a large variety of programs and activities, including key-note speeches, the 22nd World Route Development Forum, a summit forum on world tourism, one-on-one dialogues, and cultural performances. Different from all past events, this one in will include a world tourism summit, at which experts and senior professionals from the tourist industry across the world will probe face to face into the topics on joint development of tourism, aviation industry and macro-economy.

During the event, Chengdu will promote the opening of around 20 strategic international flights to New York, Sydney, Johannesburg, Saint Petersburg, Istanbul and other cities.