The eyes of the global aerospace industry will be focused on Dubai as the Persian Gulf emirate…
The eyes of the global aerospace industry will be focused on Dubai as the Persian Gulf emirate readies to host the Dubai air show.
Dubai 2005, the ninth international aerospace exhibition, opens at the Airport Expo Dubai with 726 exhibitors from 46 countries, 15 national pavilions, a newly constructed third exhibition hall, new training & simulation pavilion, an expanded delegations programme featuring civil aviation chiefs, airline presidents, Ministers of Defence, Chiefs of Staff and air force commanders from 88 countries and over 100 aircraft on display – including close to 40 business jets.
The show organisers, Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E) are also anticipating major sales announcements at the show with Qatar Airways, Hawker Pacific, Bahrain’s Bexair and International Lease Finance already hinting purchases will be unveiled.
And the show is set for major highlights with the Middle East flying display debut of the much anticipated Airbus A380 super jumbo, which will fly in Emirates colours, the first, new generation Gripen fighter jet, the very latest version of Russia’s MiG 29 SMT multifunctional combat aircraft, Agusta Westland’s EH101 helicopter and the Korean T-50 Golden Eagle advanced trainer, which will use Dubai 2005 for its international aerospace exhibition debut.
The daily flying display will be alternately opened and closed by the celebrated aerobatics squad Patrouille de France, making its third Dubai air show appearance.
“This show has grown by 25% in terms of exhibitor space on 2003, more than 25% in terms of exhibiting companies, and justifies our claim that it is the fastest-growing air show in the fastest-growing aviation region,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Department of Civil Aviation, Government of Dubai and Chairman of the Emirates Group.
“The Middle East last year led the way on air passenger traffic growth recording a 24.8% rise while freight traffic for the region was again at an all-time high registering 26.8% growth. At the same time, a recent forecast from one of the key airplane makers predicts that the region will acquire more than 1,000 new aircraft, worth some US $124 billion in the next 18 years.”
“These bullish forecasts have led to increased exhibitor demand which has been accommodated by investment in a third exhibition hall – Central Hall – by the Government of Dubai, which has created an additional 10,000 square metres of exhibition space. This investment underlines the Government’s ongoing commitment to this event which clearly demonstrates Dubai’s ability to stage world-class industry forums.”
Of the 15 national pavilions, three are brand new to the Dubai air show – Austria, Turkey and India, while a total of 130 exhibitors, making up 20% of the profile, are show newcomers with first time participation from Australia, Austria, Korea, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mauritius, the Philippines, Slovak Republic and Oman.
The Jordanian pavilion, which debuted at Dubai 2003, has been significantly expanded with 10 companies representing the Kingdom’s industry elite.
“Growth has come from the introduction of new pavilions, in particular the training & simulation pavilion for which demand was so strong that we had to expand our initial space allocation,” said Virginia Kern, Chairman, F&E. “This is not surprising given the pace of growth of some regional carriers and a recent conference report that the Middle East’s airlines will need to find up to 4,000 trained pilots over the next 10 years.”
“And growth is also due to the acknowledgement of the global industry that this region, which has seen existing carriers expand their fleets and new carriers enter the market, and where civil aviation infrastructure and investment is now literally running into billions of dollars, is perhaps the most influential in the industry.”
Dubai 2005 will also feature, for the first time, a pavilion dedicated to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS) being organised by the Washington-based Association For Unmanned Systems International, the group in the UAV industry.
And the Dubai 2005 delegations programme has been expanded once again taking into account requests from exhibitors. Some 88 countries are covered in the delegation programme, which has already been hailed by the industry as one of the most productive in the world.
“Expansion of the programme underlines our acknowledgement that this is one of the key deliverables for exhibitors. Via a concentrated delegations programme the exhibitors get to meet influential decision-makers, the very people they most desire access to,” explained Sheikh Ahmed.
The exhibition’s official programme begins with the staging of two major conferences servicing the defence and civil aviation sectors.
The Second Middle East Air Chiefs conference will take place at the Knowledge Village in Dubai and the inaugural Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) conference will run simultaneously at Le Meridien Dubai.
F&E has lined up a powerful speaker platform for MEBA, which is being hosted by Royal Jet of Abu Dhabi and is being staged under the joint patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed and HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Chairman of Royal Jet and the UAE’s Minister for Public Works. The speaker line up includes operators, financiers, aviation lawyers and civil aviation officials.
“MEBA will concentrate on the key issues currently impacting business aviation in the region and its development,” said Alison Weller, Director Aerospace, F&E. “Topics to be examined include the ownership, financing and management options of business aviation, the issues affecting aircraft interiors and the civil aviation infrastructure required to service this growing sector.”
MEBA will also hear a case study by a current business jet operator and will feature an industry forum panel discussion and a forum on airframe options, which will be addressed by representatives from Airbus, Boeing and Cessna. Other sponsors include Embraer, Bexair, National Air Service and Al Khayala.
“MEBA has been exceptionally well received by the industry and will be attended by over 300 delegates. The response has been swift and impactful and gives us immense confidence in the future of this event,” added Weller.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
