The Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2018 came to a close yesterday (February 28), concluding the three-day event held at Al Bateen Executive Airport which showcased the industry's latest progress and innovations to key players in business and aviation.

One of the highlights of the event was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Abu Dhabi Airports and San Bernardino International Airport Authority, paving the way for extensive collaboration between Al Bateen Executive Airport with San Bernardino International Airport. The two airports will work together on a variety of aviation industry issues, focusing in particular on maintaining pioneering services during high demand, deployment of latest technologies and sustainability.

In addition, Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2018 saw the unveiling of Gulfstream’s G500 for the first time in the Middle East, and Dassault’s Flacon8X, which attracted potential buyers and operators to the show. Atlas Aerospace, part of Atlas Group, a UAE based private company specialized in aircraft modifications and upgrades, showcased its flight simulator for the first time using a commercial aircraft software; an Airbus A320.

Abdul Majeed Al Khoori, acting chief executive officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, commented: "We are delighted with the feedback we are receiving from our exhibitors this year, as many of them saw the show as an extremely effective platform to meet key industry peers and have generated potential and real business leads."

"With the overall sentiment at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2018, in its fifth edition, we believe that it has once again played an important role in bringing together industry leaders in our capital, to learn about the latest developments within the business and general aviation sector" he added.

Al Khoori concluded: "I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of Abu Dhabi Airports, and express our gratitude to our local and international partners and sponsors for their unwavering commitment to the success of this unique show, and we look forward to delivering together yet another pioneering event at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2020, which we promise to be re-invented into a platform for innovation."

Air Expo 2018 occupied nearly 60,000-sq-m of space at Al Bateen Executive Airport, with manufacturers and suppliers exhibiting the latest private aircraft, helicopters, airport equipment and services, avionics, and also provided information on insurance and financing. - TradeArabia News Service