News
Early prep for Dubai Airshow
April 14, 2011, Dubai, UAE - The Dubai Airshow continues to be a platform for business aviation for global OEMs, which recognise the event as an ideal venue in which to meet existing and new customers and showcase new product lines. Running from 13 to 17 November 2011 at the city’s Airport Expo, the Dubai Airshow is the foremost aerospace event in the Middle East and the fastest growing in the world.
April 14, 2011 By Carey Fredericks
The biennial airshow complements the dedicated Middle East Business Aviation Show (MEBA) which occurs on alternate years, giving OEMs consistent, annual sales events within the Middle East region.
Ruedi Kraft, VP Sales at Gulfstream-Middle East, said that private aviation in the region is a maturing and growing business. “Since the 1970s, we have witnessed a natural growth that combines private business and government VIP requirements that increasingly demand the availability of private aviation to meet their needs,” he added. “Nowhere else in the Middle East, other than the Dubai Airshow, did we find a venue that brings all our customers together at the same time. Over the years we have become appreciative of what Dubai does for us as a venue and we look forward to coming to Dubai for many years to come.”
Prospective Buyers
This year’s Dubai Airshow is set to be the biggest yet, with up to 1,000 exhibitors expected from some 50 countries. The 2009 edition drew 890 exhibitors from 47 countries and almost 53,000 industry professionals from 138 countries – an 18 per cent rise in attendance over the previous show. The 2011 running is expected to attract more visitors and prospective buyers. “The Dubai Airshow provides a great venue for showcasing Hawker Beechcraft’s broad product line-up and meeting with our growing list of customers in the region, with continued interest in the company’s special mission applications,” commented Sean McGeough, President Europe, Middle East & Africa. In this regard, the Dubai Airshow organiser F&E Aerospace is donating exhibition space to the UN’s World Food Programme (UNWFP) for the third consecutive time. The WFP’s Air Safety Unit (ASU), which has a regional office in the neighbouring emirate of Sharjah, is responsible for monitoring the compliance with international standards of best practice in aviation safety by carriers contracted by the WFP to airlift relief supplies around the world.
Bridging East and West
The flexibility and ease that Dubai offers as an international hub make travel logistics attractive for all international clients coming to the show, not only from the Middle East, but internationally, according to Embraer’s Colin Steven, VP Marketing & Sales, Europe, Middle East & Africa – Executive Jets. “The easy access guests have to view aircraft at the show also makes this an outstanding venue for business aviation,” he said. “The Middle East is an important market for Embraer where our product line favours Middle East requirements in terms of hot and high performance conditions that are vital in the region. In addition, our service centre and parts support that are located in Abu Dhabi and Dubai remain an important part of Embraer's growth in the Middle East that we continue to expand.”
Static Display
The Dubai Airshow in 2009 displayed 130 aircraft in its static park, including business jets, and will continue to do so this year, allowing a number of OEMs to display their full aircraft product line, such as Airbus. “The Dubai Airshow gives Airbus a great opportunity to showcase our product line, allowing potential buyers to experience the company’s modern aircraft family at first hand,” said David Velupillai, Marketing Director of Airbus Corporate Jets.
The Dubai Airshow is organised under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and in association with Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Airports and the UAE Armed Forces.
