Asia's growing influence in the resurgent aviation industry is being driven by the mainland, the biggest market for aircraft in the world today. That will be reflected in the Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress, which opens its doors at AsiaWorld-Expo today and runs until Thursday.
More than 11,000 trade delegates will attend the event, including 3,500 from the mainland. About 1,200 of these mainland delegates are from airlines that operate 90 per cent of the nation's fleet.
Organiser Reed Exhibitions expects the attendance from global airlines to significantly exceed the figure in 2009 when the 100 featured airlines operated more than 11,000 aircraft, more than half the world's commercial fleet.
A major reason is the improving climate for the aviation sector after the sharp downturn in the last two years due to the global financial crisis.
'We are back - bigger and better, with a record number of exhibitors and visitors at a terrific, centrally located venue,' says Brian Thomas, vice-president (aerospace) at Reed Exhibitions.
'The continuing shift of influence and commercial dynamism towards Asia means that Asian Aerospace has grown as the most important fixture in Asia for commercial aviation. We are especially delighted to welcome new Western and mainland companies who have identified the show as a must-attend networking opportunity.'
