Dubai Airshow expected to grow by 10%

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The number of exhibitors at this year’s Dubai Airshow is expected to grow by 10% from 2007, says its organiser F & E Aerospace, and with them come some exciting aircraft and aviation-related products from across the commercial, business and military sectors.

November 15 will see the opening day of the 11th Dubai Airshow and F & E Aerospace director Alison Weller says that despite the recession, the event will be bigger than ever. “We have obviously not been immune to the economic situation. We haven’t had as many companies come back as we have done in the past, but we are growing at a rapid rate compared to some of the other shows, like Farnborough and Paris.

“Not only that, but a number of new companies have signed up to the show after witnessing the growth of passenger traffic in the Middle East, so they know this is an area to do business in and focus on, especially during the bad times.”

The trade-only show was expected to be held at the new giant airport in Jebel Ali, Dubai, but due to ongoing delays the show has had to be relocated from Al Maktoum International Airport, back to its original home at Airport Expo. However, this has not stunted the growth of this year’s event and a number of new Middle East-based companies have signed up to exhibit, creating the need for an additional hall to be built on the airshow site.

“The new Emirates Hall is our big attraction for 2009,” explains Weller. “It provides 7000 square metres of exhibition space, and has allowed us to add 11 double-storey chalets, taking to 114 the number of chalets in total.

“Some 850 exhibitors attended the show in 2007, and this is expected to reach around 900 by the opening day of the show,” Weller adds.

In terms of the size of the outdoor static display for 2009, Weller admits it is too early to say, but in light of the economic downturn it is expected to be smaller than 2007. Two years ago, some 140 aircraft were put on display by exhibitors, a record for the Dubai Airshow. It was also the year that Dubai welcomed the Airbus A380. “I have been working in the aviation industry for almost 20 years,” Weller concedes, “and welcoming the A380 to the show in 2007 was one of the highlights of my career.”

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However, a new product offering from US company, Aerion, is expected to generate a similar level of excitement. The company is exhibiting a scale model of its supersonic business jet, which although still in the development stage, is expected to attract a number of key business aviation buyers, the number of which will determine whether or not the jet goes into production.

Another new key exhibitor is Abu Dhabi Airports Company. The ADAC is a familiar name in the regional aviation industry for its projects such as the US$6.8 billion Midfield Terminal, but in the international market, it is still a young and largely unknown company. At the same time, the Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Development Company, although an exhibitor at the 2007 event, will have a much bigger presence at this year’s show, signifying that the investment arm of the Abu Dhabi government is growing rapidly.

In addition, Eurofighter is making a return after a few absent years from the show. A full-scale replica of the Eurofighter Typhoon will be exhibited outside on the static display and its appearance follows an order from Saudi Arabia for some 72 Typhoon jets. Inside the hall, EADS will exhibit a full scale mock-up of the new Airbus A350 cabin. It features a theatre system, which will show audio-visual presentations during the show. EADS will also show the full scale mock-up of the 16-seater Eurocopter EC-175.

The 10th edition of the event smashed all previous records and Weller says that even in these difficult economic times, the events growth will reflect the massive growth the Middle East’s aviation industry is experiencing across all segments. “The Airshow is a great barometer to show the Middle East aviation market how the industry is growing, progressing and handling a recession.

“As in 2007, the world’s media will be watching the outcome, and as it did in Paris it will reflect a
growing market.

“Even with less aircraft orders being announced, the Middle East carriers had a strong presence at the Paris Air Show and we can expect much of the same for Dubai,” Weller adds.

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