Al Bateen Executive Airport, the only dedicated business aviation airport in the region, has announced that it has doubled the exhibition space for Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2016 in response to huge demand from key industry professionals to participate.

To be held from March 8 to 10 as part of Abu Dhabi Aviation and Aerospace Week, the event will occupy nearly 60,000 sq m of space at Al Bateen Executive Airport, said the organisers.

Leading private aircraft manufacturers Dassault Aviation, Gulfstream, Embraer, Bell Helicopters, Cirrus Aircraft, Tecnam, and Boeing Business Jets will be back for the fourth edition.

Most of these exhibitors are upgrading the size of their stands. Abu Dhabi Aviation, the largest commercial helicopter operator in the UAE, and Royal Jet, the award-winning international luxury flight service provider, have once again signed up as main sponsors for the show.

Ahmad Al Haddabi, the chief operations officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, said: "The general aviation industry is witnessing tremendous growth in the region and Abu Dhabi Air Expo provides a perfect environment and opportunity for industry leaders to gather and discuss key developments in the market."

"The overwhelming response we are witnessing from companies is testament to the fact that Abu Dhabi Air Expo serves as a dynamic platform for them to reach growth markets across the Mena region, engage with potential partners and grow their businesses. It also demonstrates Al Bateen Executive Airport’s position as a leader in regional general aviation,” he noted.

According to the Middle East Business Aviation Association (Mebaa), the regional business aviation sector is projected to be worth $1.3 billion by 2020, with the size of the business jet fleet in the Middle East set to grow from 500 planes currently in use to 1,375.

The three-day Air Expo event is set to welcome more than 20,000 visitors from the aviation and aerospace industries.

An exhibitor line-up of 300 manufacturers and suppliers will showcase the latest innovations and development in private jet aircraft, helicopters, executive charter services, airport equipment and services, avionics systems, insurance and financing.

Over 150 aircraft, from ultra-light to heavy business jets, will be on show to be explored by aircraft enthusiasts and businesses searching for the best airplanes and aviation-related services, said the organisers.   

On the sidelines of the event, the Abu Dhabi Heli Expo will also be held, showcasing all that the helicopter industry has to offer. Attendees will be able to meet representatives from leading manufacturers, distributors and support companies, and get up close to a range of helicopters.

The Middle East Aviation Career Conference, to run in parallel with the Air Expo, will give a unique platform for industry partners to discuss the challenges in securing aviation professionals for the future, and how to tackle them by developing the right education and training programs.

In addition, selected students from Abu Dhabi will be encouraged to interact with industry experts in a series of workshops aimed at encouraging young talent to be innovative and to come up with alternative solutions to aviation sector issues.-TradeArabia News Service