The 19th edition of Routes Europe 2026, the prestigious international networking event for the aviation sector, draws to a close today, Wednesday, May 20. For three days, Rimini’s Palacongressi became the nerve center of global aviation, hosting over 1.200 delegates and representatives from 120 of the world’s leading airlines.

This marked an absolute debut for Emilia-Romagna, which leveraged this major showcase not only to redefine European route development and connectivity strategies, but also to spotlight the very best of its regional excellence.

Motor Valley in the International Spotlight

The highlight for speed enthusiasts took place yesterday evening, Tuesday, May 19. The striking settings of Piazza Malatesta and Piazza dei Sogni in Rimini hosted the major networking event evocatively titled “Emilia-Romagna, land of Italian excellence”.

Right in the heart of the city, global air transport delegates and decision-makers experienced the legend of Motor Valley firsthand. An extraordinary selection of our region’s engineering masterpieces was displayed across the two squares:

• The Ferrari 499P #51 in its striking 2026 livery;

• The Lamborghini Temerario, Maserati MCPura, and Pagani Huayra Roadster BC supercars;

• Two-wheeled masterpieces represented by the Ducati Panigale V4 Tricolore and the futuristic Vyrus Alyen 988.

This exhibition underscored the unbreakable bond between the high technological standards of the aviation industry and the craftsmanship performance of our land.

Integrated Vision and Future Synergies

As the final panels and over 5,000 scheduled B2B meetings wrap up today, the event’s outcome for the region is already highly positive. As highlighted by institutional leaders, the ability to attract events of this caliber is part of an integrated strategy designed to boost Emilia-Romagna’s internationalization.

An efficient and widespread air connection network is indeed a crucial strategic lever: it supports tourism, while providing a further competitive boost to the manufacturing sector and the Motor Valley supply chain, both of which rely on fast, solid connections with global markets.

The combination of our engines’ industrial value, the excellence of the Food Valley, and the development of the regional airport system has once again demonstrated the attractiveness and competitiveness of the Emilia-Romagna ecosystem on the world stage.