09/07/2009 11:06 PM
Dubai: The Dubai Airshow, the largest civil and military aircraft showcase in the Middle East, this year expects to see growth of 10 per cent, despite the global aviation industry facing its largest losses in history.
The show will see the addition of 7,000 square metres of space, provided by the new Emirates Hall. The semi-permanent structure, currently under construction, is being brought online to cope with expanding demand. The total exhibition space this year, including the static, will be 325,513 square metres.
Running from November 15 to 19, the exhibitor numbers are expected to increase to about 900, from the 850 that participated in the previous edition. A total of 50,000 visitors are expected, an 11.1 per cent increase from the 2007 show.
"Two months ago, in July, our bookings reached the level of total bookings for the 2007 event. With just 10 weeks to go before the air show, we are now into the growth," Alison Weller, Aerospace director at Fairs and Exhibitions, the organisers, said.
The Dubai Air show is a biennial exhibition held at the Dubai Airport Expo. It is organised since 1989 in cooperation with the Government of Dubai, the Department of Civil Aviation and the Dubai International Airport in collaboration with the UAE Union Defense Forces.
The Dubai Air show has grown from 200 exhibits and 25 aircraft in 1989 and is considered to be the fastest growing air show in the world.
The show is known for some of the largest aircraft purchase orders in recent years, led by Emirates.
Weller said that due to the market downturn in the commercial aircraft side there would be substantial decrease in expected commercial order.
However, she said that military orders will more than make up for the drop.
"There is a large number of military contracts from the Middle East that will be announced during Dubai Air show 2009."
The last show, in 2007, saw a record number of total orders, at $115 billion (Dh422.16 billion).
Weller said the trade show attracts a 40 per cent focus on defence, while the rest is made up by commercial.
While exhibitor space will increase this year, the number of flying and display aircraft will remain about the same.
There will be 18 displays, made up of up to 140 aircraft.
The show will also see the addition of 11 double-story chalets, with increased floor space. The total number of chalets will be 114.
"We are not immune to the global downturn, with less companies returning than ever before. But we are attracting new companies that are giving current and future growth," she said.
The region's business jet market grew by 13 per cent a year over the past decade, according to the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.
