Show Opens with a Bang Despite Rain and Uncertainties

The onset of rain and uncertainties over the ongoing global virus outbreak did not put a damper on the opening day of Singapore Airshow which saw a roaring aerial display of the latest range of military aircraft.   

Days before, Experia Events, the airshow’s organiser, said the biennial event from Feb 11 to 16 will see enhanced precautionary measures taken “to safeguard the well-being and safety of all attendees”, in view of the evolving coronavirus situation.

The measures include additional temperature screening at access points at the Singapore Expo and Changi Exhibition Centre, as well as the provision of hand sanitisers and a team of doctors and medics to attend to visitors who are feeling unwell, the organiser said in a statement.

Experia Events managing director Leck Chet Lam said: “The health and well-being of our attendees is of the utmost priority. Alongside these additional measures, we will also continue to take reference from guidelines provided by the authorities such as Singapore’s Ministry of Health.”

“We see it very important that….we make this platform still available for the business community. The situation is trying but we need to balance. Life must go on,” said Leck.

“We see participants, we see exhibitors, (and) we see trade visitors coming on their own accord. That’s how we see (the airshow’s) value.”    

It was reported that 70 exhibitors have pulled out from the show. They included aerospace companies Gulfstream, Textron Aviation and Bombardier. The big China firms that pulled out include companies such as the country’s largest aircraft maintenance supplier Ameco Beijing, and state-owned aerospace manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China. However, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s flight display team, Ba Yi is present here at the show.