Farnborough 2006 Improves
Business Aviation Show Facilities
As part of its efforts to revise and renew the Farnborough
Air Show, the organizers plan to make business aviation an even more important
part of the 2006 event. The 2004 show saw the launch of Farnborough's dedicated
Business Aircraft Park, which attracted 12 exhibitors and 15 aircraft. Next
year the business aviation 'show within a show' will move to center stage on
the Farnborough site, where it will be fully visible from the exhibition halls
and the chalet line.
Amanda Stainer, exhibits and events director for Farnborough
International Ltd, told Show News, "The Business Aviation Park will run for
three days from the opening of the show on Monday July 17. The new central
location is much more accessible and will have full hospitality facilities. We were
overwhelmed with interest at May's EBACE show (in Geneva) and significant
companies have told us they plan to increase their Farnborough presence."
One attraction for bizjet operators is that they will be
free to leave the site after the three-day event is finished. Says Stainer,
"Exhibitors tell us that three days is enough for companies to do their core
business. Then they need to get their aircraft back into the air and back to
work." At the same time business jet exhibitors are being offered a 50% cut in
their display fee if they agree to leave their aircraft on site for seven days,
including the public weekend.
Stainer says there have been no complaints about this
arrangement and anyway, the sums involved are low. "Static display pricing is
based on aircraft weight and even an aircraft in the 40- to 60-ton class only
costs $9,200 to exhibit at Farnborough. For a business jet the maximum cost is
going to be around $4,250, so it's not a tremendous amount of money. Plus we
will be providing a business lounge and hospitality center for no extra cost."
Farnborough is not in competition with shows like NBAA or
EBACE says marketing manager Philippa Ewart. It was customer demand that
brought business aviation to the fore at the 2004 show and Farnborough is reacting
to that continuing demand.
"We are an international show," says Amanda Stainer, "with
delegations from all across the world.
"Farnborough attracts a global audience with buying power.
We recognize business aviation as a growth market and we hope our new format
meets the needs of the industry."
