Business Airport World Expo 2011: a tremendous success!

3 March 2011, Farnborough, London: Business Airport World Expo 2011 ended its final day today on the same note as it began on two days ago: an absolute high!

Early records show that over 1,000 business aviation executives, brokers, and owners and operators of executive jets visited the expo in the first hour of Day 1 alone – and all the signs are that the final attendee figure for the three days will be close to 2,700! And they came from almost 50 countries.

Graham Johnson, managing director at UKIP Media & Events, the international exhibitions and publishing company that organises Business Airport World Expo, said, “The show has been a tremendous success for everyone who has attended. We’ve had fantastic feedback from all 115 exhibitors – you could see business being done on stands all around the exhibition hall.”

Indeed, Segun Demuren, managing director and CEO of Evergreen Apple Nigeria, which is opening an FBO in Lagos on 1 April, said: “The show has been great and it has been overwhelming how busy we have been. We haven’t had a chance to sit down over the past few days. It is exciting how many new contacts we have made!” Johan Emmeth, FBO manager at Grafair in Sweden, backed up the feel-good exhibitor factor, saying, “It has been very busy – I have been talking non-stop, from the morning right through to the end of the day! We have met many different companies who are looking to start operations into Stockholm.”

Visitors have been equally delighted with Business Airport World Expo. Robert Aiken, chief pilot, Solar Semi Engineering, UK, was typical all who visited Farnborough when he enthused, “The event has been very informative. I’ve seen a number potential new destinations and partners. It’s truly a great networking opportunity; a chance to meet new people and reacquaint myself with old contacts. Everything you need to discover new destinations, FBOs and executive handling agents was here. Fantastic!”

Meanwhile Brian Humphries, president and CEO of the European Business Aviation Association, commented, “I congratulate the organisers. I must say that I came with some trepidation; I wasn’t sure what I was going to find… but as soon as I drove in I saw that the car park was full, and then I saw the hall, which was also full.”

Humphries continued, “There are some very high-quality exhibitors and I’m impressed by the visitor numbers. You have a lot of competitors here in the same room, and you have people looking for high-quality services, because in our sector quality and time are both of the essence. I think you’re bringing the right people together.”

Johnson summed up Business Airport World Expo 2011: “Over 75% of the exhibition space for next year is already sold out. Exhibitors and visitors are clearly thrilled at the prospect of travelling to the warm climes of Cannes, France, from 22-23 February 2012. We’re expecting the show to be at least twice the size and twice as successful as this inaugural event in Farnborough.”