The inaugural Bahrain International Airshow, held at the Sakhir air base, has proved to be a resounding success for the aviation industry as a whole and the Kingdom of Bahrain. The event hosted 40 exhibitors, 94 aircraft and visiting delegates from 45 countries. Early indications show that over one billion dollars worth of deals were signed at the air base with the attending companies from all over the world and thirty thousand visited the public and trade areas over the three days.
Amongst them Yemenia’s, Yemen’s national carrier, purchase of ten A320 planes from Airbus; Bahrain’s purchase of nine Blackhawk-M helicopters from US manufacturer, Sikorsky; Gulf Air’s preliminary agreement to lease two Embraer 170 jets; Selex’s award of $15 million contract by the Bahrain Civil Aviation Authority for primary surveillance radar and two Mode-S secondary surveillance raders at the Bahrain International Airport, Bahrain’s talks to purchase two airbus planes and Boeing’s announcement to deliver 1,700 aircraft in the next 20 years to the Middle East.
Further strengthening Bahrain’s business and aviation credentials in the region, UK’s Aerospace Defence and Security organisation has announced they are to choose Bahrain to act as the central hub for the Middle East. And in further news, Gulf AviationAcademy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company was launched and will play a key role in the development of Bahrain's air transport training and infrastructure.
Chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee, HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifha said:
“We are delighted by the results of the first Bahraini International Air Show. The show brought manufacturers and users under the same roof enabling them to do business effectively and uniquely, reflecting Bahrain's status as a regional centre for transport and trade. The strong presence of the leading aerospace and defence manufactures signalled the inaugural shows success and reflected Bahrain’s status as a pioneer in the aerospace industry in the Middle East. The air show is a welcome boost to Bahrain’s economy and to its profile as a business centre in the region.”
“A great amount of organisation went into creating the air show thanks to the tremendous efforts of Farnborough International, Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Affairs, the Royal Bahrain Air force and all of the exhibitors from Bahrain, the Middle East and the rest of the world for ensuring the success of Bahrain’s first air show. Our most grateful thanks and gratitude is extended to the Royal Court and the Government ministries for making this event possible.”
Captain Abdulrahman Al Gaoud, Vice President of the Supreme Organising Committee added:
“The Bahrain International Airshow was tailored to meet the needs of the aerospace industry. With Farnborough International, we were able to create a bespoke event attracting major aerospace players from around the globe.
“Over the coming weeks we will be carefully evaluating the final figures for business transacted at the Airshow and created by the Airshow, but what is clear so far, is that the event has been a tremendous success.”
