Visitor number increase makes MEBA a success

MEBA is produced by the Dubai Airshow organiser, F&E Aerospace, on behalf of MEBAA and last week's event was the fourth edition. It  attracted 6,200 visitors from 77 countries, a 13 per cent increase over the previous show in 2008, and included 156 media professionals representing 76 media outlets from 14 countries.
 
More than 500 VIPS attended, including a number of sheikhs from the region, plus other key buyers and buying influencers.
 
MEBA displayed 53 business aircraft and a total of 338 exhibitors from 33 countries, including business aircraft manufacturers, service providers and suppliers to the industry, in addition to 15 Fixed Base Operations (FBOs), effectively a terminal dedicated to business aviation.
 
Before the show had officially opened for business, an agreement was signed for the construction of the FBO facility at Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman & Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, while he was touring the exhibition stands as part of the opening ceremony.
 
Alison Weller, Managing Director of F&E Aerospace, said: “Agreements such as the signing of the first FBO for the new Al Maktoum International indicate the level of influence and importance MEBA has now achieved, and is recognition of its status, in just five years, as the third largest business aviation show in the world.
 
“This agreement, plus other deals and service agreements made during the three days of MEBA, shows also how important private aviation has become as a business tool in the region, although not all the orders were made public. But that’s the unique nature of the private aviation business – it’s private, especially in the current economic climate when people are generally less conspicuous in spending, despite the fact, contrary to public opinion, that private aviation is not the preserve of the rich and famous, but an essential part of doing business today.”
 
Bombardier Aerospace was one company happy to disclose that it had struck business aircraft purchase agreements worth US$285 million at list price: a firm order by Comlux The Aviation Group for two Bombardier Global 7000 business aircraft, in a deal worth US$130 million at list price; and a firm order for five mid-size Learjet 85s and two large-cabin Challenger 605 jets, worth a total of US$155 million at list price, from multiple companies of the same group, for principal operation in Germany by Munich-based Jet Air Flug.
 
John Leahy, Airbus’ Chief Operating Officer, Customers, said of the show: “Air shows such as MEBA are a great way for us to showcase our wider, taller cabins and their unequalled freedom of movement, because they allow potential customers to see for themselves how we compare with traditional business jets.
 
“It can literally be a case of see, buy and fly in the Middle East market, which is the world’s most important for top-of-the-line and wide-body corporate jets.”