Asia's largest airshow to ride on China's wings
Monday, 3 September 2007
HONG KONG, Sept 2 (AFP): Airbus's new super jumbo will fly over Hong Kong Monday, heralding the start of Asia's largest airshow, with the industry set to vie for slices of India's and China's booming markets.
The double-decker A380 is due to pass over the city's Victoria Harbour, an airspace normally reserved for helicopters, at around 300 metres, marking the beginning of the four-day show.
Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress will see 500 exhibiting companies from more than 20 countries and 10,000 trade visitors in the city to scrutinise the latest industry developments, organisers said.
The conference is being held in Hong Kong for the first time in 25 years, since it moved from its original home in Singapore, a shift that organisers say reflects the boom in Chinese aviation.
Clive Richardson, vice president of Reed Exhibitions, who is putting on the show, said Hong Kong was chosen because of "its proximity to the world's most exciting aviation industry."
China's domestic air traffic is expected to double every five years and aviation authorities believe three of their airlines will be among the world's top ten both in terms of passenger traffic and revenue by 2020.
India is enjoying a similar boom. While the country had just three private airlines in 2003, at least 14 are now seeking government approval and around 480 aircraft are on order for delivery through to 2012.
"This region promises to be the focus of the entire global civil aerospace supply chain for the foreseeable future," Richardson said.
The double-decker A380 is due to pass over the city's Victoria Harbour, an airspace normally reserved for helicopters, at around 300 metres, marking the beginning of the four-day show.
Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress will see 500 exhibiting companies from more than 20 countries and 10,000 trade visitors in the city to scrutinise the latest industry developments, organisers said.
The conference is being held in Hong Kong for the first time in 25 years, since it moved from its original home in Singapore, a shift that organisers say reflects the boom in Chinese aviation.
Clive Richardson, vice president of Reed Exhibitions, who is putting on the show, said Hong Kong was chosen because of "its proximity to the world's most exciting aviation industry."
China's domestic air traffic is expected to double every five years and aviation authorities believe three of their airlines will be among the world's top ten both in terms of passenger traffic and revenue by 2020.
India is enjoying a similar boom. While the country had just three private airlines in 2003, at least 14 are now seeking government approval and around 480 aircraft are on order for delivery through to 2012.
"This region promises to be the focus of the entire global civil aerospace supply chain for the foreseeable future," Richardson said.