The fifth edition of the Bahrain International Airshow kicked off today with outstanding participation from regional and international countries and leaders and global executives from the aviation sector in attendance.

Held under the patronage of HM King Hamad, the three-day show - taking place at the Sakhir Air Base - will see 11 out of the world’s top 15 aerospace companies exhibiting and more than 100 aircraft flying and on static display.

Coinciding with the opening of the airshow, the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications’ (MTT) Bahrain Post issued a commemorative stamp to mark the 100th anniversary of the first ever flight to Bahrain in 1918.

The airshow has lined up a packed schedule of events including a three-day delegation program, a focused conference program and an insightful exhibition showcasing the latest in technology and innovation.

To mark the opening, three fast-jet aerobatic teams took to the skies Wednesday for a spectacle of flying expertise. The Russian Knights were joined by the UAE’s Al Fursan (photo) display team, as well as Italy’s Frecce Tricolori, which is making their debut at the show.

On November 15, BIAS will again unite aerospace and airport infrastructure with a conference entitled “Into the Future: Challenges and Opportunities for Gulf Region Airports and Airlines”, inviting industry leaders and experts to share experience and expertise. This conference continues a theme started in 2016 when the show served as the backdrop to around $1.1bn in contracts being signed as part of the upgrade to Bahrain International Airport’s infrastructure and services.

A “Women in Aviation” conference on the third day of the show will serve as a valuable forum for women across the industry to discuss seizing opportunities for career development in the aviation field.

The BIAS FINN Sessions, held on the second and third day of the show, are a free-to-attend program of conferences located in a theatre in the heart of the exhibition hall. 

Organized in conjunction with FINN – the Farnborough International News Network, the BIAS FINN Sessions will enable exhibitors to share their knowledge and experiences.

The show will run till November 16 for trade visitors, with live music performances lined up for the public through to November 17.