Asian Aerospace is claiming to be the world's second most important airshow - apparently behind Paris and ahead of Farnborough, although the organisers diplomatically decline to give details.
Jimmy Lau, managing director of Asian Aerospace 2000, says the claim is based partly on the results of an industry survey run by the organisers in 1998 and partly on the show's reputation.
However, Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong referred to Asian Aerospace 2000 as "the world's third largest airshow" during his keynote speech to guests at the official opening event.
This year, the airshow will play host to just over 950 exhibiting companies from more than 30 countries - a drop from the 1,070 participating companies from 33 countries which took part in Asian Aerospace 1998.
Defending the claim to be number two, Lau says: "We did a survey of the industry in the last two years. At Asian Aerospace 2000, more than 70 of the top 100 aerospace companies are represented.
"So in terms of reputation and feedback from our customers, that is how we have to come to that conclusion."
Show organisers are predicting 18,000 trade visitors this year, a drop from the 24,000 recorded at the '98 show. This is said to be a deliberate move to bring quality to the show rather than quantity.
The 20,000sq m indoor exhibition space was once again sold out. Lau says that work continues on land reclamation for the new permanent Changi East exhibition site which is about 50% bigger than the current location and will come into use for the 2004 show.
"So we will still be a bit constrained in 2002. We had hoped to have another 200-300sq m this year but it didn't happen."
Paris organiser GIFAS declined to comment on the ranking of the big three shows, but when asked whether he agreed about the current show being elevated to second position, Ken Maciver, vice-president of the Society of British Aerospace Companies, says: "Probably not, but I do think that Le Bourget is better than number three."
Source: Flight Daily News