Washington, DC, June 30, 2011 – The Shanghai Airport Authority (SAA) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) have signed a five-year agreement guaranteeing the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE) finds its home at the Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. The last ABACE was held four years ago and in the intervening time, numerous cities and countries have vied to host the next conference and exhibition.
"Shanghai is a key business aviation hub for China, serving multiple national and international industries," stated Nianzu Wu, Chairman, SAA. "We know as the economy continues to grow, so too will the demand for business aviation. At SAA, we're forward looking. By partnering with NBAA, we are bringing the premier aviation show to China. We see ABACE as a key component in our future plans to build a conference centre, attract more traffic to Shanghai and meet the aviation, plus business needs of Asia's busy executives."
China is actively promoting the development of the general aviation industry. In its 12th Five-Year Plan for 2011-2015, the government pledged to reform the airspace management system. It also indicated it would improve both the allocation and use of airspace resources. China will need approximately 10,000 to 12,000 aircraft in the general aviation field in the coming years, according to civil aviation authorities1. The market for related industries, led by general aviation, is estimated at 1 trillion yuan (about USD 152.3 billion)2.
"Combining these developments with the country's status as the world's second largest economy and the outcome is a business aviation market primed to take-off," said Ed Bolen, NBAA President and CEO. "Putting ABACE in Shanghai allows China to see all that business aviation has to offer multitasking, multi-city and multi-country flying business people."
ABACE2012 will serve as both a premier buying and selling venue, and as a world-class meeting forum for the Asian business aviation community. The exhibition is expected to draw between 5,000 and 6,000 attendees and 200 exhibitors, including a special Static Display of about 30 state-of-the-art aircraft. Major global business aircraft manufacturers have already indicated they plan to exhibit at the show. These well-known manufacturers include Airbus Corporate Jets, Boeing Business Jets, Bombardier Aerospace, Cessna Aircraft Company, Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation, Embraer Executive Jets, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, and Hawker Beechcraft Corporation.
The NBAA has over 60 years of experience in developing and implementing aviation conferences and exhibits around the world.