Connect (aviation forum)

CONNECT Route Development Forum is a European event aimed at the aviation industry.

In 2004, under the name of French Connect, the first event was launched by Alistair Darling, the then UK Secretary of State for Transport and was hosted jointly by Manchester Airport and the recently branded Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which both desired to attract new airlines into their region.

Up to this point, the French market had proved difficult for the low-cost carriers to break into.

The event has since broadened its appeal by including politicians, tour operators, suppliers and international guest airports, and has evolved into a larger multinational event and speakers and airline network planners attend from legacy carriers such as British Airways and Air France and airlines and airports from as far as Canada, Cyprus and the Middle East.

The new name of CONNECT was to convey the event's continuously broadening horizons, whilst maintaining its original and unique formula (unlimited networking, high level conferences and fantastic hospitality) with a single objective: to deliver more opportunities for all attending delegates.