Rival air shows to be held from 2008 as exhibition company fails to agree on new site
The two partners behind Asian Aerospace in Singapore are going head-to-head with rival air shows in early 2008. This follows a decision by the city state to launch its own biennial event after talks with Reed Exhibitions on building a new venue failed.
Reed Exhibitions, a sister company to Flight International, will keep the Asian Aerospace brand and move the 20-year-old show to “one of two locations” in Asia. Hong Kong is believed to be an option. “It’s business as usual as far as we’re concerned,” says chief executive Mike Rusbridge.
Meanwhile, the government’s Economic Development Board (EDB) says a new company, Changi International Airshow & Events, will operate “Changi International Airshow” from February 2008. The new company is a joint venture between Singapore’s Civil Aviation Authority and the Defence Science & Technology Agency.
At the last Asian Aerospace in February 2004 the organisers said the 2006 show would be the last to be held at the current site near Changi airport. They said a new dedicated venue would be established at Changi North.
The EDB says, however, that no “economically viable” agreement could be reached with the organisers of Asian Aerospace “for the development of this new site”.
Rusbridge says his company has had “long-running negotiations” about the future of the show, which will take place as usual in February. “We could not reach an agreement about developing a site that would meet the requirements of our customers at a cost that was acceptable,” he says.
He is unfazed by the fact that the two shows will compete. “Competition is in the nature of what we do. The industry will query the need for another show in the region,” he says.
MURDO MORRISON/LONDON & NICHOLAS IONIDES/SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International