The 2008 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) was an important litmus test to measure how the global business aviation marketplace might ride into a downturn on the coat-tails of a U.S. recession. Happily, the industry got some clear and positive results, with almost $5.4 billion in new aircraft orders being announced during the eighth staging of the annual event in Geneva (May 20-22). Much of the spending originated in Europe itself, but large amounts also came from the even more dynamic, emerging markets in the Middle East and Asia.
As of press time, EBACE was on course to fulfill projections that more than 14,000 attendees would pass through its doors to visit the record roster of 444 exhibitors. The show has now completely filled Halls 6 and 7 at Geneva’s Palexpo center. While the airport facility has plenty more indoor space for further growth, the static area–packed with more than 60 aircraft–appears to have reached capacity.
