NBAA: By Every Measure, 2013 Edition Of ABACE Is Strongest One Yet
/“We are very pleased to see the continued excitement about the future of business aviation in China, and across the broader Asian region, as demonstrated by the numbers for this year’s event,” said Ed Bolen, president and CEO of NBAA, which presented ABACE2013 in partnership with the Shanghai Airport Authority, the Asian Business Aviation Association and the Shanghai Exhibition Centre.
To illustrate his point, Bolen pointed to several key statistics:
- The number of Exhibitors in the ABACE2013 Exhibit Hall and Pavilion was up 15 percent over that for ABACE2012.
- The number of airplanes and helicopters on the ABACE2013 Static Display was up 25 percent over the number for ABACE2012. (In a noteworthy development, two of the display helicopters flew into Hongqiao International Airport, and those flights were a first for non-police helicopter operations at the airport.
- The number of chalets accompanying the aircraft on the ABACE2013 Static Display ramp increased by 44 percent over the number of chalets on the Static Display ramp for ABACE2012.
- Registration at the close of ABACE2013 was up by more than 30 percent over that for ABACE2012.
Bolen also noted that beyond those success metrics, the show had been effective in advancing the dialogue with key policymakers about the diversity and importance of business aviation, and attracting high-level government officials for discussions about promoting the industry’s growth in China and across Asia.
For example, the first day of ABACE2013 included a standing-room-only Opening General Session featuring presentations by: Jiaxiang Li, minister of the Civil Aviation Authority of China; Xia Xinghua, deputy administrator of the Civil Aviation Authority of China; Gary Locke, the U.S. ambassador to China; Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez, president of the council of the International Civil Aviation Organization; Jiang Ping, vice mayor of Shanghai; and Nianzu Wu, chairman of the Shanghai Airport Authority.
Also on the show’s first day, a session organized by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, entitled, the “China Business Aviation Symposium,” brought together top-level regional, national and international officials to discuss a wide range of matters, including the continuing development of business aviation, regional and international policies affecting operations in the region, and the formation of strategic partnerships between established companies.
Throughout the show, a robust slate of education sessions provided information for any type of show Attendee – from those already using a business aircraft, to those still considering how business aviation may fit into their future business plans. The sessions included participation from individuals based in China, as well as other locations around the world, who shared their regional expertise.
As with NBAA’s other events, the Association looked to ABACE2013 as an opportunity to help build business aviation for generations to come, by working with the Shanghai Civil Aviation College to host an ABACE Career Day tour for a teacher and 50 students, ranging in age from 15 to 18 years.
“It's clear that, once again this year, Shanghai assumed the center of the world’s business aviation stage this week,” Bolen concluded. “We thank our Exhibitors, Attendees and everyone else who participated in ABACE2013, and we look forward to building on this year’s show with even greater success in 2014.”