Story ID: 547
Big Names Sign up for Bahrain
By: David Donald
Caption: Airbus and Boeing are among six well-known aerospace companies that will participate in next year’s air show in Bahrain
Word Count: 222
During the Paris Air Show, six aerospace giants have confirmed their support for the next edition of the Bahrain International Air Show (BIAS), which is to be held November 14 to 16 2018. Airbus, Boeing, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, Textron and Thales have all signed up to participate. These companies follow others that have pledged support during the EBACE and IDEF shows, including Otokar, Roketsan, Sky Prime Aviation and TAI.

“The continued participation of these major players adds further weight to the growing importance of the Bahrain International Airshow,” commented His Excellency Engineer Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Bahrain’s minister for transportation and telecommunications. “These companies see the Gulf region as an important strategic location and the high-level meetings they are able to hold via our civil and military delegations program make the show invaluable to them.” On Tuesday the minister hosted a business briefing at the Kallman USA Partnership Pavilion.

BIAS has gained a reputation as an important aerospace business event in the Middle East, and has drawn notable participants. In 2016 the HAL Tejas fighter from India made its international debut in Bahrain. For next year’s show the organizers are planning new features such as a presentation theater for product demonstrations. SEGMA is organizing the Manama Air Power Symposium to take place on the eve of the show.