The Dubai Airshow, a biennial aviation and aerospace jamboree that attracts tens of thousands of visitors, is set to go ahead next year despite the challenges facing the industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The show is slated to go-ahead from the 14th to the 18th November 2021 as originally planned, although it’s not known whether the live show will be a smaller and more subdued event than previous years.
The positive news was confirmed just weeks after the organisers of the Paris Airshow said they would cancel the event next year citing the “unprecedented impact” the pandemic has had on the aviation industry.
Analysts pointed out that the high costs of putting on the show as the industry reels from the biggest crisis in its history was likely one of the main reasons the organisers decided to scrap the show. The Paris Airshow dates back to 1908 and was last cancelled during World War II.
“Dubai Airshow is set to be one of the most anticipated points of convergence for aerospace professionals across all areas of the industry to facilitate successful global trade and analyse the future of the industry,” commented Badr Al Olama, Executive Director of Mubadala Aerospace at Mubadala Investment Company and a member of the Advisory Board.
“The industry has been impacted significantly by COVID-19 and we are excited to use the Airshow as a platform to demonstrate the necessity of the aerospace and aviation industries and the potential for future growth and development,” explained Tim Hawes, Managing Director of Tarsus F & E, which organises the event.
In 2019, the Dubai Airshow hosted 1,200 exhibitors and more than 84,000 trade visitors from around the world. Orders for new jets from rival aircraft manufactures Boeing and Airbus and totalling US$54.4 billion were made at the last show.
Emirates, one of the largest exhibitors at the event, has become increasingly bullish about the industry’s recovery in recent weeks. Sir Tim Clark, the airline’s president, is now optimistic that business travel will bounce back and that Emirates’ massive fleet of Airbus A380’s will all be put back into service as vaccines are rolled out throughout 2021.
