EBACE will look a little different this year with two of the heavyweights in the business aviation market, Bombardier and Gulfstream, deciding not to exhibit. However, the annual show—to be held May 28 to 30 in Geneva—will sport its first eVTOL vehicle on static display, from VoltAero, and have a focus on hydrogen as well as electric, NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said. He further told AIN that all of the other aircraft manufacturers that traditionally exhibit at the event have committed to returning.
Bombardier confirmed yesterday that it was not exhibiting and “is exploring various regional marketing concepts as part of our broader business plan.” The Canadian manufacturer of the Global and Challenger business jet lines also emphasized that it “supports the great work of both the EBAA and NBAA in key areas, including safety, sustainability, innovation, advocacy, workforce development, and other priorities” and said it would continue to partner with the organizations on a wide variety of activities throughout the year.
Earlier, Gulfstream also confirmed that it had decided against exhibiting at EBACE and similarly said it planned to “select events in markets that align with our business objectives.” The move to pass on the EBACE show floor and display follows Gulfstream’s decision against exhibiting at NBAA-BACE in October.
The loss of two major exhibitors at this year’s show no doubt will have an impact, but Bolen stressed, “We’ve got a lot going for us as we are moving into the show.” Acknowledging the decisions of Gulfstream and Bombardier, he further said, “We do have a number of exhibitors that are very enthusiastic about the show…What we do see is that the other manufacturers certainly will be there. And so we're very excited about that continued level of support that we see.”
And while registration has just opened in recent weeks, Bolen said it is off to a good start.
He further noted the strong support from Geneva and Eurocontrol, “both of whom are going to be front and center as part of the opening sessions, talking about the importance of business aviation” to the economy as well as throughout the system, including at places that have little or no commercial airline service.
EBACE also will have sustainability as a focal point with sustainable aviation fuel available for operations and plans to highlight activities underway for the industry to reach its goal of net zero by 2050. “We’ve got sustainable aviation fuel; we've got propulsion technologies which will certainly be front and center—that includes the electric propulsion with a particular focus on advanced air mobility.” VoltAero is exhibiting on the show floor as well as at the static display. Discussions and displays surrounding hydrogen also will take a more prominent role this year.
Another area that will differ this year, although it may or may not be visible, is security. The 2023 EBACE was marred when about 100 eco-protestors cut through a security fence and swarmed onto the static display. Seven handcuffed themselves to a Gulfstream on static display, three attached to the nose gear and four to the cabin entry door handrails. More secured themselves to other aircraft. While the event was quickly contained, it disrupted operations at Geneva International Airport and caused diversions of aircraft in the local airspace.
EBACE organizers EBAA and NBAA condemned the actions. As for this year, Bolen said, “I don't want to get too deeply into security details, but I will say we have had a number of meetings, myself included, in Geneva with Geneva itself, with the police department, and the airport [on] the entire security apparatus for the city, the state.”
He said this is a top priority for everyone involved, adding that show organizers have also consulted with top security experts in Europe. “We have a very comprehensive security plan in place,” Bolen maintained. “We're working with all of the exhibitors on the specifics related to that. We're determined to host a safe, secure, and successful show and we think we have the elements to do that.”
Some of the changes will be visible while others will not, he explained.
After the breach by protesters last year, questions arose on whether it would impact the static display. While Gulfstream and Bombardier have both opted against displaying, neither have pointed to that—at least publicly—as a reason for their respective moves.
EBACE will look a little different this year with two of the heavyweights in the business aviation market, Bombardier and Gulfstream, deciding not to exhibit. However, the annual show—to be held May 28 to 30 in Geneva—will sport its first eVTOL vehicle on static display, from VoltAero, and have a focus on hydrogen as well as electric, NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said. He further told AIN that all of the other aircraft manufacturers that traditionally exhibit at the event have committed to returning.
Bombardier confirmed that it was not exhibiting and “is exploring various regional marketing concepts as part of our broader business plan.” The Canadian manufacturer of the Global and Challenger business jet lines also emphasized that it “supports the great work of both the EBAA and NBAA in key areas,” and said it would continue to partner with the organizations on a wide variety of activities throughout the year.
Earlier, Gulfstream, which decided against exhibiting at NBAA-BACE in October, also confirmed that it had decided against exhibiting at EBACE and similarly said it planned to “select events in markets that align with our business objectives.”
The loss of two major exhibitors at this year’s show no doubt will have an impact, but Bolen stressed, “We’ve got a lot going for us as we are moving into the show.” Acknowledging the decisions of Gulfstream and Bombardier, he further said, “We do have a number of exhibitors that are very enthusiastic about the show…What we do see is that the other manufacturers certainly will be there. And so we're very excited about that continued level of support that we see.”
Bolen said in the early weeks of registration that it was off to a good start.
He further noted the strong support from Geneva and Eurocontrol, “both of whom are going to be front and center as part of the opening sessions.” EBACE also will have sustainability as a focal point with sustainable aviation fuel available for operations.
Another area that will differ this year, although it may or may not be visible, is security. Last year eco-protesters disrupted EBACE briefly with some chaining themselves to a Gulfstream, among others. As for this year, Bolen said, “I don't want to get too deeply into security details,” but several meetings were held with a breadth of officials and security experts.
“We have a very comprehensive security plan in place,” Bolen maintained. “We're working with all of the exhibitors on the specifics related to that. We're determined to host a safe, secure, and successful show and we think we have the elements to do that.”
While Gulfstream and Bombardier have both opted against displaying, neither have pointed to that—at least publicly—as a reason for their respective moves.