Organizers of the second Asian Aerospace show in Hong Kong (September 8 to 10) have claimed progress in developing the new show in tough market conditions. According to Reed Exhibitions, the amount of exhibitor space sold was up 60 percent on the inaugural September 2007 event (even though the total number of individual exhibitors was actually down, to 356 from 575). Some 12,600 trade visitors registered at the Asia World Expo center, a slight increase for the 2009 show, and about one third of these visitors came from China.
Looking beyond the current downturn, Reed is now planning to hold the third Asian Aerospace show from March 8 to 10, 2011. The official reason given was the desire to avoid the typhoon season (one hit Hong Kong the week after this year’s show). However, this would also provide a more even spacing for the biennial event alongside the rival Singapore Air Show, which is held around February or March of even-numbered years. (The next one takes place from Feb. 2 to 7, 2010.)
