CONNECT 2027 Route Forum Development lands in Trieste for its 23rd year!

Trieste, Italy, announced as Host City 23rd – 25th February 2027

The Airport Agency, creator of the CONNECT Route Development Forum, together with the official local hosts —Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, PromoTurismo FVG (regional DMO) and Trieste Airport— is proud to announce that Trieste, Italy will host the 23rd year of CONNECT from 23 to 25 February 2027. The event will take place at the Generali Convention Center Trieste, a modern venue set within the historic Old Port. Overlooking the Gulf of Trieste, it combines striking sea views and a setting that reflects the city’s strong maritime heritage, while being easily accessible for a seamless delegate ex- perience.

The announcement was made at a press conference held today in Trieste, attended by local authori- ties (Massimiliano Fedriga, President of the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sergio Emidio Bini, Regional Minister for Economy and Tourism, Fabio Gallo, CEO of Trieste Airport and CONNECT representa- tives).

Taking place over three days, CONNECT Aviation is set to attract over 800 aviation industry decision- makers among airlines, airports and destinations from more than 65 countries. The event will feature prescheduled one-to-one meetings, a high-level conference programme, and an engaging social agenda, offering unmatched opportunities to drive new air service development and strengthen in- dustry partnerships.

“Following our previous event in Lublin, we are delighted to bring the aviation community together in Trieste, a city that seems to hold the world within its edges. With its mix of cultures, its café traditions, and its quiet sense of movement between Central Europe and the Mediterranean, Trieste offers not just a setting, but an experience, a place where ideas, like its trade routes, are constantly in motion.” – said Karin Butot, CEO of the Airport Agency, CONNECT creator and organizer.

CONNECT is heading to Trieste in 2027, bringing the event to a city shaped by its unique place in European history. Once the main seaport of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Trieste developed as a cosmopolitan crossroads where Italian, Central European and Balkan influences still intertwine today. This layered identity is visible in its architecture, its literary heritage, and its enduring culture of exchange.

Trieste is strategically positioned on what is being called the ‘New Golden Road’, linking Central- Eastern Europe with the Indo-Mediterranean and beyond. Its deep-water port, one of the few in the area with a “free-port” status and direct rail access into Central Europe, makes Trieste a key hub for trade and logistics. Combined with intermodal links and major transport corridors, the city positions itself as more than a destination, serving as a center for regional growth and international business.

Beyond its economic and strategic strengths, Trieste is also a city to be experienced. Shaped by centuries of exchange, it is a place where Mediterranean and Central European traditions meet not only in culture, but in everyday life. Its renowned café scene, rooted in its historic role in the global coffee trade, sits alongside a culinary identity that blends Italian flavors with influences from across its former empire. This strong sense of place brings a distinctive and welcoming dimension to the CONNECT experience.

Perched on the Gulf of Trieste, the city sits at the crossroads between Central Europe and the Mediterranean. For centuries, it has absorbed and reinterpreted external influences, creating a dynamic environment where business, science and culture continue to evolve side by side. Today, this openness is reflected in its focus on innovation, accessibility and sustainability.

The surrounding Friuli Venezia Giulia region adds further appeal. With strong research and innovation hubs, a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, and a rich cultural landscape, the area offers a compelling mix of economic and experiential value. Its growing appeal to both leisure and business travelers underlines its rising profile on the European stage. In 2025, the region attracted more than 3.3 million of visitors, for a total of over 11 million overnight stays, demonstrating its growing popularity as a destination for both leisure and business travelers. Just outside the city, highlights like Miramare and Duino Castles overlook the sea, while the Barcolana regatta brings international attention each autumn. Within an hour, visitors can reach renowned wine regions such as Collio and Colli Orientali— home to some of the world’s finest white wines—along with historic towns and UNESCO sites like Aquileia, Cividale, and Palmanova, as well as the well-known Adriatic resorts of Lignano Sabbiadoro and Grado. To the north, the Alps and Dolomites offer breathtaking landscapes and endless opportunities for outdoor activities, including cycling and hiking in pristine nature. From the mountains to the sea, this remarkable biodiversity is reflected in a cuisine that blends local specialties with diverse cultural influences.

“The awarding of CONNECT 2027 to Trieste represents a highly significant recognition for the entire Friuli Venezia Giulia region and for the work carried out in recent years to strengthen the international positioning of our territory. In close collaboration with Trieste Airport, we have developed a shared vision that effectively combines infrastructure development with future-oriented strategies, with the aim of attracting investment, increasing tourist flows and creating new growth opportunities. This event will provide a valuable opportunity to further enhance the visibility of our region and to foster new partnerships, within a framework of ever-growing internationalization.” – said Massimiliano Fedriga, President of the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia.

With its 1.7 Million passengers, Trieste Airport, the air gateway to Friuli Venezia Giulia, has rapidly grown in recent years, ranking in 2025 among Europe’s fastest-growing mid-size airports by ACI Europe (Airports Council International): with its growing scheduled network, it has been supporting and improving accessibility to the city and its region, consistent with CONNECT’s mission to enhance local air connectivity especially at regional airports.

“We are very pleased that Friuli Venezia Giulia will host CONNECT 2027 in Trieste – said Fabio Gallo, CEO of Trieste Airport – this is one of the most important commercial aviation events, which will bring to our Region hundreds of delegates and representatives of airlines, airports and operators from all over Europe. A unique opportunity we all have to present our integrated and co-operative approach in order to make airlines discover and understand the enormous potential our airport and our “Trieste / Friuli Venezia Giulia” destination – be it for business or for leisure – can offer.”

About CONNECT ROUTE DEVELOPMENT Forum

CONNECT is an independent forum for the development of air routes, providing airports and their regions with a framework for developing their commercial activities. Now in its 23rd year, CONNECT is a recognised event dedicated to route development, aimed at airlines, airports, tourism organizations and industry suppliers.