The organizers of the Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) confirmed that this year’s event will see its strongest international presence to-date reflecting the event’s growing standing in the global aviation event calendar and cementing strategic relations between key nations.
Taking place from 21-23 January 2016 at Sakhir Airbase, the show will see representation from the US, UK, France, India, Russia and Turkey. BIAS will also see more participation from MENA states, with the largest participation yet from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from which numerous companies including Saudi Arabian Airlines will be joining for the first time, alongside Kuwait Airways, Emirates and previous attendees Qatar Airways. Multi-national organizations to date include Airbus, BAE Systems, Boeing, Chevron, CFM, Finmeccanica, Lockheed Martin, Rolls Royce, Turkish Aerospace Industries, TAG Aeronautics and Thales Group.
The exhibition feature hall at the show has also allowed a growing number of international SME businesses to attend the show with national pavilions from the India, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and the UK. The popularity of the feature hall, which was introduced at the last edition of the show in 2014, has resulted in a size increase of almost 50% for 2016.
Speaking about the growing international participation, His Excellency Engineer Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications for the Kingdom of Bahrain and Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee for BIAS said, “The Bahrain International Airshow is a real platform for trade and business. With so many countries represented, it allows businesses to bolster and build new partnerships. With the value we bring through our extensive delegations program we offer all our participants the opportunity for extensive networking and discussion.”
Amanda Stainer, Commercial Director for Farnborough International Ltd, added, “With the show just a few weeks away, we are delighted at the positive response to the event. All our Chalets are now sold and just one space remaining in the exhibition hall. The Delegations program is also very strong with 34 countries represented from 75 delegations. Aircraft participation now stands at over 100 aircraft including the Russian Knights, two Eurofighter typhoons, a T129 ATAK helicopter for Turkish Aircraft Industries, and an F-22 from the USAF to name just a few”.
Now in its fourth edition, BIAS is a focused global aviation event providing its elite list of aerospace business participants the opportunity for high-level networking in exclusive surroundings. With just 40 chalet participants and dedicated exhibition space, the event allows participants the opportunity to meet the extensive civil and military delegations invited as guests of HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa - HM the King's Personal Representative and Head of the Supreme Organizing Committee of BIAS.
