Sun shines on EBACE 2014

“The worst years of the global economic downturn are over,” European Business Aviation Association CEO Fabio Gamba declared at the opening of EBACE 2014 in Geneva on 20 May, suggesting that this year is going to be, if not a defining year, certainly a positive and exciting one.

Ed Bolen, President and CEO of NBAA, was positive in highlighting that new products underway from Bombardier – with the Global 7000, Dassault’s Falcon 8X and the Gulfstream 650ER – were a great vote of confidence for the sector. 

There was an upbeat media presentation from Wheels Up, USA and Gama Aviation on how they plan to roll out the membership-based private aviation model to London next year; Aerion promoting their supersonic business jet and Pilatus celebrating that all positions on its new PC-23 light jet, unveiled at EBACE a year ago, have been sold out to 2019. 

The number of exhibitors increased by 8% to 499 and while the total of aircraft out on the static was the same as 2013 – 53 – many were notably larger aircraft, meaning the static space had sold out.  Attendance was up more than 7% from last year and there was a great bonus for visitors – unbroken sunshine.

Alison Chambers reports in full ON TOUR next week.  www.ebace.aero

Index/Home page
 

OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum