Airshow exhibitors up by 70pc

The fifth edition of the Bahrain International Airshow has successfully achieved a 70 percent growth in overall exhibitors with the participation of international companies having surged by 77pc since the 2016 edition, said HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Personal Representative of His Majesty the King and the Chairman of BIAS’ Supreme Organising Committee.

“The Bahrain International Airshow is the Kingdom’s largest aviation event and an integral component of our strategy to boost the economic contribution of the aviation industry by attracting foreign investment. The economic impact of BIAS has increased by more than 90pc since its inception, firmly establishing it on the global aerospace events calendar,” he said.

“Having witnessed a significant increase in the number of participants, the fifth edition of the Bahrain International Airshow has successfully achieved a 70pc growth in overall exhibitors. As a result of these figures, the exhibition space at BIAS has increased by 100pc, with overall space available now amounting to 9,000 sqm.

“This year’s edition will also see a 40pc increase in the number of dedicated country pavilions, with participation from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and Taiwan. New-time exhibitor numbers have also jumped by 69pc (83 out of 120) with the United States, Russia and Romania each having their own pavilions,” he added.

With an estimated 110 civil and military aircraft congregated at BIAS 2018 from across the globe, the upcoming event will host a number of flying and static aircraft displays, with several airlines showcasing their aircraft including Gulf Air, that will be displaying their new Dreamliner Boeing 787 and Airbus A320neo.

This is the result of a significant agreement that was signed during BIAS 2016 and demonstrates an important development for the Kingdom’s aviation industry. The US Air Force, Gulfstream, and Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company will also showcase their aircraft throughout the three-day exhibition, the BIAS stated. The show is organized on a biennial basis by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT) and the Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF), in association with Farnborough International.