New business announced on the first day of MEBA 2008 vastly exceeded expectations with fast-approaching $2 billion worth of new aircraft orders announced in just a few hours yesterday. The sales stampede has set MEBA on course to become the true fulcrum for the world’s fastest growing business aviation marketplace.
HE Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Economy and Chairman of its General Civil Aviation Authority, officially opened MEBA 2008 yesterday morning, before making a tour of the exhibit halls and static display of aircraft. He took the place of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the show’s royal patron of MEBA 2008, who was expected to open this show, but who was unavoidably delayed in the U.S. Sheikh Ahmed is still expected to visit the show before it ends on Tuesday, according to Ali Al Naqbi, chairman of the Middle East Business Aviation Association.
