CONFERENCE LANGUAGE: English

24-25th September 2009

Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland

Theme of the year:

Aviation market during the economic crisis

Main topics

• Aviation market in the crisis time
• Airports development strategies
• Financing airport development

Discussion panel

• Crisis vs. airports-airlines relations

Airports vs. Airlines - what will be the future of the sector?

The first day of the Airports Conference gathered key representatives of airports and airlines. In Courtyard by Marriott Hotel there is a discussion pending regarding relations and solutions possible to implement during the time of crisis. During the evening Gala the aviation sector will be awarded Awionetki 2009 Awards. Reducing airport taxes is not the way to improve the current situation.

Are low airport taxes a key to success? This question was asked by Sebastian Gościniarek, Deputy Director in PricewarethouseCoopers, and moderator of the panel. Both costs and service are significant for carriers. - Flying is a service. We cannot imagine development without the cooperation with an airport - says Jarosław Nowicki from Brussels Airlines.

Airlines call for reducing the costs, including airport taxes, but airports, especially in Poland, wrestle with a very significant problem of finding resources for investments. Thus, reducing airport taxes may have a negative impact on the development. What other attractive undertakings can airlines count on?

Włodzimierz Machczyński indicates two types of carriers. The first acts exclusively within price limits calling for reducing the costs. The second is interested in opening new connections, but they what to be assured by airports that new destinations will be profitable. Cooperation with tourist agencies may provide such assurance.

- We are heading towards stimulation of flight connections. Such solution is more reasonable. We support carriers in seeking new markets and developing traffic. - says Michał Marzec, General Director of ,Polish Airports, State Enterprise - We offer detailed, and for us cost-generating, studies, which we make available to carriers, we also ensure marketing assistance. From 1 October new rates of airport taxes will be applicable, amounting to 99% - Thanks to such solution an airport can implement investments. Participants will discuss the possibilities of financing investments on Friday.

During the evening Gala Awionetki 2009, organised on the occasion of anniversary of Airports 2009 Conference, the sector will be awarded in the following categories: the best airport, the best airline, personality of the year, the most significant event, the most innovative product/service.

- The first edition of Gala Awionetki is a very important event for us. The event will be cyclical. Nominations for Awionetki Awards are proposed by our Website both by passengers and representatives of the sector. The final result lies with the award committee, which comprises recognized personalities from the aviation sector - says Alan Arent the Head of Department Events & Conferences.