EBACE is returning with a full agenda, first-time exhibitors and aircraft debuts, and plenty of engagement opportunities. However, the May 23 to 25 show, which is co-organized by NBAA and EBAA, also will see fewer exhibitors as the effects of the Russian-Ukraine war and remnants of the Covid-19 pandemic continue to loom over Europe.
NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen and EBAA secretary-general Athar Husain Khan provided a glimpse of their upcoming joint convention and exhibition in Geneva during a webinar Tuesday morning, encouraged that the industry will be able to gather together once more at Europe’s hallmark business aviation show.
“This is going to be an exciting time in Geneva. Our industry is stronger now than we have ever been. And our future has never looked brighter. This is our opportunity to celebrate business aviation in one of the most spectacular venues in the world,” Bolen said. “We have missed being with you, but we haven’t gone back to where we were. We have gone forward and it’s the future that will be on display.”
As evidence of that, the show floor will once again house an Innovation Pavilion but the number of exhibitors there has expanded and some are showcasing their vehicles for the first time, Bolen noted. Exhibitors include well-known names in the electric and eVTOL sector such as EHang, Eviation, Lilium, Pipistrel, and VoltAero, which will have indoor and outdoor exhibits.
Nearly 50 aircraft are lined up for static display, including the show debuts of Gulfstream’s G700 and Dassault’s Falcon 6X, among others.
The exhibit halls have been been “reimagined” to house two theaters that Husain Khan said will feature “very exciting” innovations and other announcements.
In addition, the keynote speakers—including international tennis star Martina Navratilova, record-setting pilot Zara Rutherford, and Syrian refugee pilot Maya Ghazal—will all share their stories on the exhibit floor in the Innovation Zone rather than a separate hall as in previous years.
These floor features come as the number of exhibitors has reached about 250, well shy of the nearly 500 in 2019 and 418 in 2018. However, Maureen Cameron, director of exhibit sales, services, and operations, said some exhibitors are not able to join the show because of certain global situations, sue as the Russian-Ukraine war. She added, however, “We’re pretty excited that we continue to get exhibit applications in nearly every day. So those numbers will increase” and overall said the show is looking really strong for its return.
EBACE will continue to house key events such as a two-day Sustainability Summit with two luncheons and a breakfast, along with educational sessions featuring experts in the field; the formal launch of the young professionals-driven Standards & Training for Aviation Responsibility and Sustainability (STARS) program; a career day for high school, technical, and university students; and EBACE coffee socials at the NBAA and EBAA stands. EBACE will continue to provide numerous educational sessions on other topics as well.
Organizers are continuing to eye health and safety protocols and are planning for on-site Covid testing.