Air show draws record turnout of nearly 60,000 trade visitors

China’s growing presence, sustainable fuel in the spotlight

- Kok Yufeng , Esther Loi and Aqil Hamzah

Nearly 60,000 trade visitors attended the first four days of the Singapore Airshow, eclipsing the previous record set in 2018 by 10 per cent, said organiser Experia Events.

"It clearly signals a renewed optimism and momentum driving the sector forward," its managing director Leck Chet Lam said on Feb 23 in a statement to mark the end of the show's four-day trade segment.

The ninth edition of the biennial exhibition began on Feb 20, six years since the last full-scale show. Covid-19 disrupted the 2020 and 2022 editions.

Mr Leck told The Straits Times that visitors and exhibitors had only three words to describe the 2024 show: "Busy, busy, busy".

The biggest buzz was around China's home-grown Comac C919 narrow-body passenger jet, which made its international debut.

Comac also kicked off the show with an order of 50 planes from Tibet Airlines.

America's Boeing and Airbus from Europe announced their share of orders too.

In all, Asia-Pacific carriers including Thai Airways, Vietjet and Taiwan's Starlux bought 77 planes from the two companies.

About 40 Chinese aviation companies took part in the 2024 show, and 31 of them joined hands to set up a country pavilion for the first time. This was organised by the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and its vice president and secretary-general, Dr Yao Junchen, said discussions between the companies and trade visitors were active.

Mr Leck said the air show offers the Chinese a platform to be connected with the rest of the Asia-Pacific and beyond.