AVIATION FUTURE – TECHNOLOGY & SUSTAINABILITY

The MEBAA Show 2022 is a prestigious event that brings together key players and enthusiasts from the business aviation industry. As the leading platform in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the show fosters innovation, collaboration, and growth within the sector. Participants can expect to engage with leading organizations, explore new developments, and contribute to shaping the future of business aviation. With a focus on driving the industry forward, the MEBAA Show is a must-attend event for those seeking to stay ahead in the dynamic world of business aviation.

The MEBAA Show 2022, held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, has solidified its position as the foremost business aviation platform in the Middle East and beyond. The event, which took place from 2022 December 6th to 8th at the Dubai Airshow site (DWC), gathered key industry players from over 95 countries, fostering collaboration and driving the future of business aviation. With a focus on emerging markets, sustainability, and cutting-edge technologies, the MEBAA Show 2022 served as a catalyst for growth and innovation within the industry.

The MEBAA Show 2022 successfully facilitated connections between business leaders and exhibitors, encouraging collaboration to drive the industry’s future. Key themes such as future aviation, sustainability, emerging markets, and digital advancements like blockchain, AI, and crypto-based payments took center stage. The event’s international presence and focus on in-person networking contributed to the exploration of new opportunities and partnerships, ensuring the MEBAA Show remains a crucial platform for shaping the business aviation landscape.

Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, Founding and Executive Chairman of MEBAA – the Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association, comments: “As we continue to witness huge growth across the business aviation industry, it’s been fantastic to see so many new initiatives highlighted at this year’s MEBAA Show. Day 1 has already seen the formation of many new connections between our visitors and exhibitors, along with the launch of a series of market-leading new technologies and sustainable solutions that will play a vital role in the future of the industry. We are pleased to be working with global industry leaders and specialists to deliver our best show to date, and look forward to seeing a continuation of today’s success over the next two days and beyond.”

“The MEBAA Show is providing a platform for the global business aviation industry to come together to build on partnerships and form new connections that will drive the sector forward. Across the first two days, we have already seen a series of key announcements and new signings as our community takes advantage of the huge growth that’s predicted for the sector. Organizations are looking at how they can incorporate new aircraft, technology and innovation into their current operations. We are proud of what the show has achieved so far,” said Alnaqbi.

The inaugural BizAv Talks conference at MEBAA featured seven insightful presentations and panel discussions centered around the theme of Future Private Jet Business Models. The Biz Av Talks conference at MEBAA Show 2022 offered a unique platform for attendees to gain valuable insights from industry experts, stay updated on the latest trends, and engage in interactive discussions. The conference featured over 30 global panelists and speakers, who covered a broad range of topics including future aviation, sustainability, emerging markets, regulations, and technological advancements. The conference provided a platform to reassess industry dynamics, explore new perspectives on business aviation, and discuss how technology can enhance the customer experience journey, ultimately driving the industry forward.

Sustainability took the spotlight in the panel discussion titled ‘Strategies for business aviation sustainability,’ which featured industry leaders from JETNET iQ, Air BP, and World Kinect Energy. Moderated by NBAA’s SVP Douglas Carr, the panel addressed Sustainable Aviation Fuel, carbon footprint reduction strategies, and technological advancements contributing to a more sustainable industry. This discussion emphasized the importance of collective efforts and innovative solutions in achieving a greener future for business aviation.

During the discussions, Carr said: “The aviation industry has unprecedented pressure on sustainability, with a special focus on business aviation. The industry as a whole has committed to milestones that will be necessary to reach net zero goals and fuel is the single biggest opportunity to make aviation sustainable.”

Geahchan followed with: “A lot of focus is on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). It shares a lot of the chemistry with jet fuel, which makes it promising for the industry as a solution that can be used without any changes to existing aircraft. SAF can reduce emissions by 80% over the life of an aircraft.”

The MEBAA Show 2022 served as a platform for numerous exhibitors to showcase their latest aircraft, technologies, and solutions. The remarkable growth of the business aviation industry has paved the way for significant innovation, as evidenced by the diverse range of cutting-edge offerings on display. The exhibition hall was abuzz with excitement, reflecting the industry’s eagerness to embrace new opportunities and push boundaries in this dynamic sector.

The MEBAA Show 2022 witnessed a remarkable showcase of innovative aircraft, reflecting the anticipated growth of the global private jet market. Exhibitors presented an impressive lineup, including the Boeing 737, SkyLady Boeing 767-200ER, Dassault Falcon 8X, Bombardier Global 7500, Gulfstream G700 and G650ER, Embraer Praetor 600, Airbus ACJ TwoTwenty, Phenom 300E, and Learjet 60XR, among others. These state-of-the-art aircraft featured advanced technology and specialist features, showcasing the industry’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs and expectations of the global market.

The business jet market experienced a strong pace of acquisitions in 2022, with the total number of new deliveries and pre-owned transactions declining only 15.1% compared to 2021. Despite this decline, the market in 2022 showed resilience, with transactions being 7.1% higher than in 2020 and 7.5% higher than in 2019. This performance reflects continued demand for business jets from both fleet operators and individual users, despite supply chain disruptions affecting new aircraft production and a substantial decline in pre-owned inventory. The market’s growth compared to previous years is a testament to the industry’s strength and adaptability in the face of these challenges.

“This has been a remarkable MEBAA show and it has been incredible to see industry leaders come together to drive real change for the future of business aviation. At MEBAA, we also want to empower the future leaders, and it was fantastic to welcome students who have an interest in our sector and provide them with the platform to network with industry players and learn more about the vast opportunities available to them,” said Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, Founding and Executive Chairman of MEBAA – the Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association.“

The business aviation industry has grown significantly in the last couple of years, not only in the Middle East region where mega events such as Dubai Expo 2020 and the Qatar World Cup have led to increased demand, but also in many key international markets. Throughout the three days, we have seen an industry transition with significant levels of innovation, technological advancement and digital transformations right across the show, along with many key deals and new announcements, all showing that this sector growth is set to continue well into the future,” Alnaqbi added.

Carlos Brana, Executive Vice President, Civil Aircraft at Dassault Aviation, also commented: “Dassault Aviation presented our popular Falcon 8X very long range trijet at this year’s MEBAA show and exhibition, where it drew a lot of interest from the many prospective buyers and operators who also visited our chalet. Middle East owners appreciate the qualities of the Falcons and we were able to discuss face to face with guests our two brand-new Falcon 6X and 10X programs. Just as importantly, MEBAA Show was an opportunity to look ahead and present our expanding regional product support network, which will include the company’s ExecuJet MRO Services unit at Dubai World Central to serve business jet operators in the Gulf region, opening in early 2023. We are delighted to support such a dynamic regional business aviation industry, with MEBAA Show at its heart.”

Tim Hawes, Managing Director of Tarsus Group, noted, “The ninth edition of the MEBAA Show has seen a lot of innovation and positive discussion, and we look forward to seeing the impact that the show has made in the coming months and years. A key highlight for this year was the launch of the BizAv Talks conference. It was brilliant to hear industry leaders and specialists from across the globe share their insights on some of the key themes shaping the industry, including sustainability, future aviation and emerging markets, and we were proud to see all audiences really engage with these discussions.”

Speaking of Airbus’ participation in the MEBAA Show, Benoit Defforge, President of Airbus Corporate Jets, commented: “The Middle East is the leading market for ACJ and we are proud to be at the MEBAA Show this year, demonstrating our latest innovation within the business aviation sector. We see significant opportunities in the region for further growth and aircraft renewals, especially considering that more than 100 of the large private jets are older than 15 years old, which represents more than 40% of the fleet. Through our ACJ Connect solutions, we provide the most advanced and sustainable private aircraft, with cutting-edge connectivity, inflight entertainment and operations. We look forward to even more collaboration with our regional and global customers for years to come.”During the MEBAA Show 2022, several significant agreements were announced, reflecting the growth and development of the business aviation industry. Airbus Corporate Jets signed a partnership agreement with Citadel Completions LLC to join the ACJ Services Centre Network, while MBRAH signed four agreements with Empire Aviation Group, Athena Security, Khaleej Aerospace Industries, and Airline Support Baltic. Additionally, the official contract signing of the DC Aviation G-OPS joint venture marked the opening of a brand new FBO at Nice Airport, among other notable developments. These agreements demonstrate the ongoing commitment to innovation and collaboration within the business aviation sector.

The BizAv Talks conference at MEBAA Show 2022 featured seven presentations and panel discussions centered around the theme of ‘Tomorrow’s Customer – Next-Generation.’ With a strong emphasis on future aviation, digitalization, blockchain, AI, and crypto-based payments, the conference delved into the importance of staying adaptable and ready to embrace new technologies. One key session, titled ‘Stay ahead of the curve with cryptocurrencies,’ saw Robert Plhak, CEO of VOO, and Gernot Winter, CEO of AVINOC, discuss the significance of offering flexible payment methods to cater to the evolving needs and preferences of tomorrow’s customers. The conference highlighted the importance of keeping up with technological advancements to remain competitive in the marketplace.“It’s not just about cryptocurrency, it’s about tokenization as a whole, and the real goal is to connect the real world – the business aviation world – with the crypto world.” He continued by sharing examples of how tokenization and blockchain technology can be used within the future of the aviation industry, not just through payment, but also loyalty programs, aircraft ownership, security for airlines and airports, MRO solutions, ticketing, identity management and much more,” said Gernot Winter, CEO of AVINOC.

The Gulfstream G700, showcased at MEBAA 2022, is a top-of-the-line business jet that offers unparalleled performance, comfort, and versatility. Boasting more than 65 city-pair speed records, this ultralarge-cabin aircraft can accommodate up to 19 passengers and features innovative design elements such as the industry’s only ultragalley, providing over 10 feet of counter space. The G700 can be configured with up to five living areas and can sleep up to 13 passengers, making it an ideal choice for both business and leisure travel. With its exceptional range, speed, and cabin amenities, the Gulfstream G700 sets a new standard for luxury and performance in business aviation.“The G700 continues to exceed customer expectations since entering service in April,” said Scott Neal, senior vice president, Worldwide Sales, Gulfstream. “It is truly an industry-leading aircraft that has raised the bar for performance, innovation and comfort, and we look forward to its return to the MEBAA Show and Dubai.”

The Gulfstream G700’s spacious cabin is a standout feature, offering ample room for up to five living areas that can comfortably accommodate 19 passengers and sleep 13. Passengers can enjoy innovative amenities such as the industry’s only ultragalley with over 10 feet of counter space, enhancing the inflight experience. The G700 prioritizes comfort with award-winning seat designs, 100% fresh air, whisper-quiet sound levels, abundant natural light, and the industry’s lowest cabin altitude. With its impressive range and performance capabilities, the ultralong-range G700 can effortlessly connect Dubai and New York at a cruising speed of Mach 0.87 and reach a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.935, setting a new standard for speed and efficiency within the Gulfstream fleet.

In the middle of 2022, the first outfitted G700 was awarded the 2022 International Yacht & Aviation Award in the Private Jet Design category for excellence in cabin design. The all-new seat design on the G700 earned an IY&AA in 2020. The G700 features the most spacious, innovative and flexible cabin in the business aviation industry.

The 10th edition of the MEBAA Show, scheduled for December 10-12, 2024, at the DWC Dubai Airshow Site, is set to be an exceptional event for the global business aviation industry. With a focus on innovation, cutting-edge technologies, sustainable solutions, and unparalleled networking opportunities, the show will bring together key industry leaders to shape the future of business aviation.

As a leading hub for the region’s business aviation sector, the event will feature a range of exciting elements to facilitate new connections, foster learning from experts, and showcase the most advanced private jets. Participants can look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions, exploring the latest industry trends, and experiencing the best of what the business aviation world has to offer. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of the MEBAA Show 2024 and contribute to the continued growth and success of the industry.

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