A potential DMO Ally Table of contents 3 45678899910111. Identify your target market2. Research airlines, airports, and routes3. Build a compelling case4. Discover unserved air routes5. Offer incentives and infrastructure support6. Foster relationships7. Review the Health Status of existing routes8. Be flexibleSummaryWhy ForwardKeys?Destination Gateway Air Route A potentialDMO Ally Few travellers think about how route developments affecttheir choice to land at their destination. They search forflights and book the cheapest or most convenient ones, but Routedevelopment is an essential function for airportsplanning to attract new services and for destinations seeking We asked our team of aviation experts at ForwardKeys forsome tips or factors to consider when negotiating new route Identify yourtarget market This step determines the airlines to approach.Research the type of traveller or business youwish to attract and identify their origin anddestination,travel purpose,and budget.Forexample, if you are targeting high-end business “There is the pull vs push strategy I would say.On the one hand, if they want to attract morevisitors, they can analyse the unserved routes(who are already searching but cannot currentlyreach your destination, at least not easily). Onthe other hand, you can be proactive rather Research airlines,airports, and routes2 Once you have identified your target market, research airlines that serve thatmarket. Look at their route maps, frequencies, and schedules to see if they Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of potential airports to determinewhich is the best fit for your destination. Consider factors such as airport Attention should be given to demand that the new proposed route could Meanwhile, routes could have one or more of the following characteristics: Capacity-underserved during one or more of the seasons Have potential demand growth Fits in the airline’s network structure and business model Fleet compatibility Offer cargo revenue Cost effective Have premium yield Build a compelling case3 Getyour partners and local communitygroups on board – from hotels to economicdevelopment bodies – to plead the case thatyou all need more airlift. A DMO (DestinationManagementOrganization)on its own may Toattract airlines and airports,you needtodemonstrate the potential benefits ofestablishing a new route. Compile data on local Towork on flight development,DMOs mayneed to show airlines that they are not the onlyones seeing new flights. Local authorities andbusinesses who support the new endeavours Discover unserved air routes ForwardKeys can help build your case further via its range of data solutions and products for flightconnectivity. Travel demand can finally have real-time figures as ForwardKeys can demonstrate thenumber of flight searches made for a specific destination, hence capturing the intent to travel as well The latest innovation from ForwardKeys, through their new data smarts, will also show wheresomeone is searching from and then flying to. On many occasions, the area may not have robust In addition, demand that could be generated from possible interline agreements (for example, code-sharing) should also be taken into consideration. All characteristics of demand such as purpose of Offer incentives andinfrastructure support 5 Airlines and airports may require incentives to establish anew route. These can include marketing support, landingfee reductions, or revenue guarantees. Consider whatincentives you can offer that align with your budget andobjectives. For example, you can offer to cover the costs DMOs should be aware that airlines will more likely be onboard to consider route development if your destinationhasshown a strong commitment to infrastructure.That includes, but is not limited to, the airport and itsadjacent facilities. It also includes transportation to and Create contentthat speaks to Building strong relationships with airlines and airports iskey to successful negotiations. Attend trade shows andevents organised by Routes and CAPA, engage in regular Showing your commitment to the partnership can increasethe likelihood of the airline or airport being receptive to Review the Health Status 7 ForwardKeys allows destinations to examine and monitor how the current routes are performing as well as assessthe route strength based on load factors. Few competitors in the market can offer you that. Ensuring planes are full will guarantee the use of that route by many airline carriers. Remaining accessible by smoothand regular flight connectivity is vital for destinations looking to increase international arrivals or welcome back Bonus Be flexible 8 Negotiating with airlines and airports can becomplex,time-consuming,and sometimescompromises may be necessary to reach asuccessful agreement. Be open to alternative Summary In summary, negotiating new route development requires a comprehensive and strategic approach. Several aspectsneed t