Inaugural Bahrain Airshow 60% sold

Farnborough International Limited (FIL), co-organiser of the inaugural Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS), has announced that 60% of the event's exhibition space has already been sold.

Organised by Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) for the Kingdom of Bahrain alongside FIL, the Airshow takes place under Royal patronage from 21-23 January 2010 .

The Airshow is significantly different to any other aerospace event in the Middle East by way of its highly exclusive design with no exhibition halls. Forty participating companies will each be operating from a luxury five star chalet, fronted by individual equipment display areas. These companies alone will be afforded texclusive one-on-one opportunities to meet with high level visiting delegations.

The most recent organisations to sign up to the event include Boeing, EADS, and SELEX Sistemi Integrati, a Finmeccanica company. These companies add to the existing prestigious participants already involved, such as BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Sikorsky and the US Department of Defence.

The event’s Flying Display is also set to form a very exciting demonstration of capabilities with expected participation from the US Navy, flying one of their F-18 Super Hornets as well as a SH60 Seahawk. Also expected is the H92 from Sikorsky. BIAS sponsor, Gulf Air - the official carrier for the airshow – will present a daily flypast and the Bahraini Air Force hope to demonstrate the F5 fighter jet, Hawk and F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Amanda Stainer, FIL Exhibitions & Events Director said: “We have been delighted by the response from industry and for the support demonstrated through sales commitment, which reaffirms the demand for an event such as BIAS in this region. Space has sold extremely well and we are now looking forward to the realisation of this landmark event. BIAS will particularly benefit from the strength of commitment by the Bahraini Royal Family, ministerial departments and CAA, all of whom are working relentlessly to ensure that the very highest level delegations and VIP guests will be delivered to airshow participants.”