Singapore Airshow organisers vow to ‘carry on’ despite coronavirus concerns

More than 70 officials and exhibitors have cancelled and ticket sales have dropped off but organisers say ‘life needs to go on’

Singapore has confirmed 43 cases of coronavirus and authorities have warned of the potential for more infections

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A worker wipes the window glass of cockpit of an Embraer SA 195-E2 aircraft on display at the Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 5:00pm, 9 Feb 2020Updated: 2:58pm, 25 Feb 2020

The Singapore Airshow will go ahead despite reduced ticket sales and cancellations of defence officials and international exhibitors after the spread of the deadly coronavirus forced airline suspensions and upended global travel.

Organisers on Sunday said more than 70 exhibitors have pulled out – about 8 per cent of the companies that were signed up.

Public attendance will also be pared back, said Leck Chet Lam, managing director of Experia Events, adding there would be less than half last year’s 70,000-strong crowd.

“We are looking at selling [fewer] tickets so that the attendance will be controlled,” Leck said. “[It would be] significantly less than half of what was sold in previous shows.”

Still, Leck maintained it was important for the biennial event, slated to begin on February 11, to go ahead as it has become Asia’s top aerospace and defence event.

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