A total of 12 people have made the shortlist for their impact on their organisation and reputation within the sector.

The annual awards highlight the airport and destination marketing services that aid the launch of new routes, as well as the development of existing ones.

This new category will be called the Individual Award for Outstanding Contribution to Route Development.

It will recognise those people who drive forward growth in route networks and connecting cities across the globe.

World Routes 2017 will take place from September 23-26 in Barcelona.

TTG Media publishes Routes News magazine, which accompanies Routes events.

The finalists are:

Christian Kaeser, head of aviation marketing and business development, Nuremberg airport

Gabriel Schmilovich Isgut, director of network strategy and planning, Vueling Airlines

Ioanna Papadopoulou, director, communications and marketing, Athens International airport

Hampton Brown Sr, director, air service development, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority

Ignacio Biosca, head of airline relations and airport marketing, AENA

Jo-Anne Arends, air service development manager, Aruba Airport Authority NV

Léon Verhallen, head of aviation development, Brussels airport

Paul van den Brink, project manager, Cape Town Air Access

Stephanie Wear, economic and air service development, Tenerife Tourism Corporation

Uel Hoey, business development director, Belfast International airport

Yil Surehan, director, airline route development, Massport/Boston Logan International airport

Beat Kisseleff, international network planning manager, Air New Zealand