SINGAPORE (AP) – Asia’s largest Singapore Air Show opens Tuesday with a number of aviation displays, including one with China’s COMAC C919 narrow-body airliner.
This is the first time Singapore has opened the event to the public since 2020, when it was held in a scaled-down version as the COVID-19 pandemic was just beginning.
The biennial show comes as Asia’s aviation industry is getting back on track after a difficult few years due to the pandemic, which saw many countries in the region close their borders to most international travel. Ru.
Subhash Menon, executive director of the Asia Pacific Airlines Association, said this year’s show was “back in full swing” with more than 1,000 exhibitors.
“Singapore Airshow is a good opportunity for exhibitors to show off where they are going in terms of technology such as self-driving cars,” Menon said in an interview on Tuesday.
He said passenger numbers in the region have nearly returned to pre-coronavirus levels and Asia-Pacific is expected to account for 50% of this year’s growth in air travel demand.
But even as the airline industry recovers, it faces a broader supply chain crisis, including shortages of parts, aircraft and personnel, from flight crew to pilots.
“Supply chain issues are definitely impacting the timely delivery of aircraft and spare parts, which is one of the reasons why capacity growth has lagged behind traffic growth,” Menon said. he said.
“We don’t know when this situation will ease as it relates to trade tensions and geopolitical issues around the world,” he said.
Highlights of this year’s show include the aerial display of China’s C919, a narrow-body airliner developed by the Civil Aviation Corporation of China (COMAC). Airbus will also exhibit its wide-body A350-1000 aircraft.
The C919’s debut at the show will be the first time the jet has flown outside Chinese territory, although the plane flew over Hong Kong in December in its first foray outside mainland China.
The Singapore Air Force will deploy F-15SG fighter jets and AH-64D Apache helicopters for air display. A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress is also scheduled to fly Thursday.
The lineup also includes the Republic of Korea Air Force’s Black Eagle, the Indonesian Air Force’s Jupiter, and the Royal Australian Air Force’s Roulette. Indian Air Force’s Saran Air Exhibition Team performs aerial acrobatics.
US aircraft manufacturer Boeing will not exhibit passenger planes at the show. The company has come under intense scrutiny after a panel on one of its 737 Max 9 jets exploded during a flight last month.
Sustainable aviation is also expected to be in the spotlight at this year’s air show, with Airbus using sustainable aviation fuel in its A350-1000 aircraft at its aviation exhibition.
Hyundai’s U.S.-based Supernal division, which specializes in advanced mobility aircraft such as air taxis, is also exhibiting at this year’s air show.
The event will be held from February 20th to 25th and is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors. More than 1,000 companies from over 50 countries are participating.