Bahrain International Air Show 2018 : An Elite Event ?
Bahrain will be celebrating next year its 5th edition of the Prestigious Bahrain International Air Show. This world class event has been launched in 2010 and already won an exceptional reputation in the industry.
In exclusivity for Business Explorer, we had the chance to meet one of the main actor of this event, Yousif Mohammed Mahmoud, Head of Bahrain International Airshow Group.
A competitive international environnement for Air Show Industry
There is not any month without an international event dedicated to Aeronautic industry. The market outlook can easily explain the situation.
The airplane market is resilient and has been growing at a 5% year rate according Boeing analysis and will be meeting a robust demand for the next 20 years. The air travel market will be 2,5 times larger in 2037 and the global commercial fleet is projected to double in size.
In addition of the new aircraft demand, ¾ of the actual fleet will be replaced over the next 20 years, creating a demand of up to 40 000 planes.
The Gulf area will be one of the main motor of this economic growth with an acceleration of aeronautics projects to connect this area to the rest of the world and create an economic growth. Creating an Elite Air show is a dream for every Gulf country.
For Yousif Mohammed Mahmoud, Bahrain air show concept has been created especially for the venue of air show by offering a Business Aviation boutique air show.
A Air Show taylored for Elite business meeting
Bahrain Air Show location is excellent, at a very private airport that will allows more freedom on flight display and test flights for qualified customers.
Bahrain Air Show created 40 high standards chalets of 160 squares meters available in an all exclusive package at a price starting around 160 000 USD.
The price is half the one in Paris International air show where chalets are furnished without decoration.
The services includes catering, waiters, maître d’hotel, free-wifi and a brand new Bmw 750 Limousine with professional Chauffeur.
Every Chalet is offering the same services and size, so no inequality of comfort can be seen by the customers between the brands. That offers is an interesting marketing approach for small corporation that can host customers like the industry giants. The solution is ‘clés en main’, the customer only comes with brochures.
A Hall Design that allows Small corporations to sign contracts
In 2012, corporation wanted to take part to the show without paying a whole chalet. Bahrain Air Show created an exhibition hall, and doubled this year the size of the hall to 10 000 sqm. It offers an opportunity for young corporations to meet the industries leaders and sign interesting deals.
This year, we doubled the size of the exhibition hall, Yousif Mohammed Mahmoud said.
An interesting strategy for Air Shows, we saw during Paris Air Show that many startups and SME had interesting contracts thanks to the Paris Air Lab and exhibition hall interactions.
Bahrain, a dynamic market for Aeronautics players with a strong French presence.
France signed biggest deals with Bahrain, more than 4 billions euros deals for new Airbus A320 neo. They also signed with Safran engines division for more than one billion. They also signed with Thales for more than one billion.
Aeroport de Paris (ADP) has been selected for airport construction, engineering and new Air traffic control (ATC) design.
Bahrain is also searching Small companies for new projects, and this one are also invited to sign deals with Bahrain. The exhibition hall will be an interesting place to meet such corporations. The idea is to attract new corporations that could integrate Bahrain economy.
Bahrain is one of the most dynamic country of Gulf Area, and one of the major connection point between east and west since centuries.
The Heritage argument : Bahrain is an Aviation country since decades
Bahrain has a long history with aviation. In 1921, the first plane landed in Bahrain. In 1950, first jet engine was landing in Bahrain. Most prestigious aircrafts have a particular link with Bahrain. In 1967 The Concorde was flying in Bahrain for Temperature Test and airplane developpement.
In 1971, first Boeing 747 of the Area landed in Bahrain because no airport was big enough to accommodate a plane as big as this one, when he was transiting from London to Australia. But Bahrain has been affected by the augmentation of airplane range in the 1980’s and lost the market.
But Bahrain has always been a place of meeting between cultures, people and ideas. Even geographically, Bahrain is placed in the Damman Aquifer that is a physical and geological phenomen that create spring water from meeting of two seas. Thanks to this natural phenomen, Bahrain have spring water and need fewer desalination plant. This advantage has been a huge one in its developpement on the international stage.
Bahrain is Back on the international stage with BAIS
The government has a Strategy to bring business to Bahrain and increase investment and tourism.
Bahrain is a high growth market for airline industry, leaded by Airbus, who have Biggest airbus fleet in Gulf area.
Bahrain has two main airports, an international one and a Military one.
Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi are modernizing airport, and Saudi Arabia is building 5 new airports. The market is huge. Bahrain and its central location is a hub for investments in aeronautics industries. With The lowest business costs in the region, according to KPMG, and an efficient registration process, business can be really fast in Bahrain.
For private life, with its Family friendly and social lifestyle where cultures truly mix , the country is ranked 1st in the region and 4th globally in the 2015 HSBC Expat Explorer Survey.
Bahrain International Air Show is a key step in Bahrain communication
With the multiplication of aviation events, and industry booming, Bahrain International Air Show wants to be an unavoidable event in the area. Bahrain is the main point of meeting for the industry. It will be intended by the Elite of the profession, VIP, Head of state, Commandant of Air Defense and will offer for corporations to invite guests in the best conditions to do business and discover new products.
This confidential event is a good option for a brand that want to build a strong relation with customers. It is also a secure place for travellers.
In flight demonstrations and test flights will be displayed for attendees at Sakhir Military airport without encountering traffic restrictions (Some critics were pointing the lack of slots available in events at Geneva or Le Bourget airports).
The event will not be offering public day but a special public area that will have view on airplane display, with an educative village with exhibitions, science workshops, and conference for visitors and educate future generation.
The Air Show will bring new tourists and investments.
Bahrain Air Show will be an occasion to invite Delegation to discover this attractive country.
Bahrain can be an hub, and also a central point for technical aeronautics products shipment.
According to all this informations, Bahrain International Air Show will be an unmissable event in the Gulf Area.
Regarding economic forcast and show format, this event will be the one that will allows and corporation to make successfull deals.
More Informations :
PS: This articles has been written by Business Explorer after Paris Air Show event. This article is not sponsored. All rights reserved. Business Explorer 2017.
Samy SAHLI
