Connectivity, Creativity and Craft: The MEBAA Show Sets Business Aviation Benchmark

…Exhibitors launch new ideas at the Middle East & North Africa's biggest business aviation event

MEBAA 2016 Exhibition  Venue

Day two of the MEBAA Show, the biggest business aviation show in the region, underlined the growing event is about increasing demand for quality services and operators. The row of first-time exhibitor pods in the main hall features global companies testing products, services or simply looking to engage with local and regional customers and partners.

Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, Founding Chairman of the Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), said: “It's gratifying that the MEBAA Show continues to attract new exhibitors – both those who are new to market, and those who realise the value of the business aviation market to the region. I have seen everything on the show floor this year, from high technology, advanced airborne medical solutions and outstanding flight deck safety solutions, to the new wave of in-flight catering and entertainment. The MEBAA Show is clearly where the industry comes to showcase innovation, creativity and technology.”

Honeywell Aerospace has been appearing at the MEBAA Show since it began, and this year its focus is on connectivity and services.

Donna McGrory, PR Manager for Honeywell Aerospace, said at this edition it is seeing a steady flow of regional clients, adding that “a lot of our main customers are here.

As part of its connectivity focus, Honeywell announced a Wi-fi deal with Royal Jet, the Abu Dhabi international luxury flight services provider, which chose Honeywell's JetWave Ka-band satellite connectivity hardware and GoDirect cabin connectivity services on its new 34 seat, custom-made Boeing 737-700 Business Jet.

Raghed Talih, Middle East Sales Director, said: "Business jet passengers have high expectations, including reliable connectivity service, whenever they fly. With Honeywell's connectivity solutions, Royal Jet's VVIP passengers can experience fast, consistent in-flight WiFi, improving comfort and productivity throughout their journey."

Andrey Rastorguev, Production Manager at Canadian landing gear MRO, Avia Technik Corp, said his company has appeared at similar events in North America, but decided to attend the MEBAA Show for the first time in 2016, where he has been able to put “names to faces” of clients, and “feels very positive about the market here.”

South East Asia's IndoChina Aviation Centre is another first-time exhibitor at the event, with Director Christian Mosebach has spent time meeting existing customers, and is keen to expand in the region, saying, “It's been worthwhile, with high quality visitors. It's good to meet our clients and customers, but we also have the opportunity to meet with operators here.”

US-headquartered GoGo has taken an expanded space at the MEBAA Show, to announce that it is now a truly global provider of global airtime services. Part of its offering on display at the heart of the event is an advanced In-flight Entertainment System (IFE), which now has multi-language capabilities, including Arabic, and offers automatic updates via the cloud, in the hangar.

Lisa Peterson, VP, Marketing at Gogo, said: “We have seen WiFi move from 'nice to have' into 'must have' and today, people are switching operators based on WiFi services. Modern business travellers have three expectations: work, life and play. Work involves the need to check and send email, life means the ability to check in and check social networks, while play means the ability to enjoy services on-board like our IFE offering.”

Meanhile GoGo's fellow American exhibitors are taking up nearly a third of the main show floor, with the US Pavilion showcasing mostly small-to-medium enterprises from 16 US states, presenting a cross-section of equipment, products and services for owners and operators, including: maintenance tools and accessories, air ambulance, flight safety training, aircraft lighting, catering, ground support equipment and financing.

“When American companies commit to exhibit at the MEBAA Show, we’re saying we believe in the power of this event to attract real business prospects and customers,” said pavilion organiser Kallman Worldwide's President and CEO, Tom Kallman. “As the MENA business aviation and aerospace market continues to expand and diversify, we’re proud to work with show organisers to help our exhibitors succeed in Dubai, whether as prime contractors or subcontractors in support of regional owners, operators, service and maintenance partners and their end-user customers.”

The MEBAA Show expects 9000 trade visitors by the end of its three-day run, where 460 exhibitors are showcasing everything from high technology to new inflight catering solutions, tailored to the business aviation industry.