Story ID: 082ABACECancelled
NBAA Scraps ABACE 2020 Amid Virus Concerns
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: NBAA has decided to cancel ABACE 2020 due to the growing Coronavirus outbreak.
Word Count: 419
Amid mounting concerns about the spread of the Coronavirus in China and Asia in general, NBAA has decided to pull the plug on this year’s Asian Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (ABACE). The show was scheduled to take place at Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport from April 21 through 23.

“While the Chinese government is taking commendable steps to address the Coronavirus outbreak, the current situation has presented a very challenging environment for decision-making and action for ABACE participants to fully prepare for the event,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “This necessary step is being taken in the spirit of partnership, collaboration, and transparency.”

In early February when NBAA announced its call to cancel the show, uncertainty was swirling among exhibitors and attendees alike, especially with the concerns revolving around the Singapore Airshow at the time, where major business aviation OEMs such as Gulfstream, Bombardier, Textron, and Leonardo canceled their appearances at the last minute. “We chose to announce this decision at this point," said Chris Strong, NBAA’s senior vice president for conventions and membership, "because we’re aware of important upcoming deadlines that our exhibitors would need to address, for example, shipments of exhibit materials, visa applications, flights, etc. We were hoping to help them avoid unnecessary expenditures in this uncertain environment.”

Since its launch in 2012, ABACE, which is conducted in partnership with the Shanghai Airport Authority and hosted by NBAA and the Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA), has become the region’s premier business aviation event, typically attracting more than 9,000 attendees from 50 countries. Next year’s edition is scheduled for April 13-15.

“We will focus on making ABACE 2021 the best edition yet, and continuing its critical role in promoting business aviation in China, across Asia, and around the world,” Bolen stated.

In 2014, NBAA signed a memorandum of agreement with the Shanghai Airport Authority, which extended the original five-year arrangement to situate the show at Hongqiao by another five years. That would pin it there through 2021, but it is unclear if the cancellation of this year’s event would extend that agreement through 2022.

"Right now, our primary focus is on the health, safety, and security of all ABACE participants, including our exhibitors, attendees, policy leaders, and others,” Bolen told AIN. “We will turn our attention to any longer-term considerations at a later date, given the need to ensure this very serious and immediate situation remains our primary concern for the moment."
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