Military and Strategic Journal
Issued by the Directorate of Morale Guidance at the General Command of the Armed Forces
United Arab Emirates
Founded in August 1971

2021-01-10

Dubai Airshow Will Propel Aviation to New Heights

The year 2020 may not have offered a ‘Cloud Nine moment’ for the aviation sector, but the New Year need not see a repeat trend.
 
The Dubai Airshow, which is set to return for its 17th edition on 14-18 November 2021, is expected to be a landmark event for the aviation industry preparing for post COVID-19 era.
 
It will serve as an ideal platform for re-thinking strategies, navigating uncertainty and scaling up operations to ensure the smooth re-establishment of the industry in general.
 
To be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence – the Dubai Airshow is recognised as one of the most successful air shows in the world.
The event will be held with the support of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Airports, UAE Ministry of Defence and Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects and organised by Tarsus F& E Middle East.
 
It will be the only airshow of its kind to take place in a live format, highlighting Dubai’s leading response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the world-class safety measures implemented in the emirate. 
 
Turbulent times demand sober response. The Dubai Airshow will be the most important point of convergence in 2021 where the future of global aerospace industry will be showcased and analysed. The show will offer experts from commercial and business aviation, defence and military, aircraft interiors, air traffic management, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), space and air cargo, a perfect opportunity to exchange valuable ideas. 
 
Optimistic Outlook
The sky is not all gloomy. According to the latest IATA reports, the second half of 2021 is expected to see improvements after a difficult 2021 first half. Aggressive cost-cutting may combine with increased travel demands during 2021, due to the re-opening of borders with testing and/or widespread availability of a vaccine, to see the industry turn cash-positive in the fourth quarter of 2021, which is earlier than previously forecasted.
 
The Dubai Airshow will witness a range of new features, which include a strong focus on cutting-edge technologies used in the aviation industry. 
 
The new Technology Showcase will provide a platform to exhibit the latest tech and will include key conference programmes on topics such as 5G, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain. 
 
According to PWC, Blockchain could increase aviation industry revenue by as much as US$40 billion. 
 
Tim Hawes, Managing Director of Tarsus F & E commented: “The Dubai Airshow 2021 will demonstrate the evolution of the aerospace industry and the fast acceleration of digitalisation as a result of the pandemic. The industry has been impacted significantly by COVID-19 and we are excited to use the Airshow as a platform to demonstrate the necessity of the aerospace and aviation industries and the potential for future growth and development.” 
 
There will be a new East-West Startup Hub as part of the Airshow, called VISTA, which will give startups access to mentorship programmes and a chance to meet decision makers and globally ranked investors to launch, grow and scale their startups. In 2019 alone, investment in aerospace startups reached nearly US$1 billion.
 
Dubai Airshow, in coordination with the Defence Services Marketing Council (DSMC), is launching a new advisory board, which will not only serve the Airshow but the regional industry in general. 
 
The Board will focus on topics including instilling confidence in aviation post-pandemic, development of talent and skills as well supporting the next generation of women in aerospace. 
 
More details on this are expected in the coming months.
 
Badr Al Olama, Executive Director of Mubadala Aerospace at Mubadala Investment Company and a member of the Advisory Board commented: “Dubai Airshow is set to be one of the most anticipated points of convergence for aerospace professionals across all areas of the industry. The impact of digital transformation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the sector has been profound and we expect these elements to be key parts of the industry’s future recovery.” 
 
The event will take place at Dubai World Central (DWC), Dubai Airshow Site. 
The 2021 edition will build on the overwhelming success of the last event which drew 84,000 trade visitors from 148 countries, 1,200 exhibitors, over 1,400 international and regional media and an order book in excess of US$54.4 billion. 
 
For the first time in 2019, a growing focus on space exploration regionally was recognised with its own conference programme, opening with Women in Space, hosted by the UAE Space Agency and featuring speakers from the UN and Boeing.
Aimed at examining the key role female scientists, researchers, engineers and astronauts will play in the future of the global space industry, the conference proved a huge draw.
 
Former astronaut, the European Space Agency’s Claudie Haigneré, stated she found the level of engagement very encouraging. “I felt that really something is going on here, and I’ve been really impressed because this shows a real possibility for change. The new generation coming up here is so refreshing.”
 
One hundred new firms made their Dubai Airshow debut in 2019, with new arrivals on the defence, Air traffic control (ATC), maintenance and supply fields all exhibiting for the first time at the show. 
 
The dedicated feature pavilions for Space, Cargo and Global Air Traffic Management (GATM) also attracted new companies to the region keen to be part of the growing aerospace market. 
 
Emirates’ COVID-19 Response
Meanwhile, Dubai’s Emirates Airlines sees a sharp recovery in demand for air travel as coronavirus vaccines are distributed around the world, meaning the carrier’s fleet of jumbo Airbus SE A380 jets could return to the skies by early 2022.
Progress on the production and transportation of inoculations should be evident by the second quarter of the year, President Tim Clark said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. That will lead to a release in pent-up demand “across all segments” led by those who haven’t been able to travel during the pandemic, according to him.
 
Clark added, “My own view, and it’s always an optimistic view, is by end of next calendar year or the first quarter of 2022 we’ll have all our A380s flying.”
 
The outbreak of the coronavirus forced governments around the world to shutter borders or introduce stringent quarantine restrictions, leading many carriers to seek state and investor support or face bankruptcy.
Emirates, the world’s biggest long-haul carrier, has also been badly affected as demand all but dried up on its key routes. The carrier received US$2 billion in support from Dubai’s government, but recent positive developments about effective vaccines indicate little extra help will be needed, as per Clark. 
 
He had previously said the development of a vaccine would be key to the A380’s return to wide use. 
 
The introduction of vaccines will require airlines and governments to set rules about whether proof of an inoculation will be needed to fly, and Qantas Airways Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said his airline would make it a “necessity”.
It’s still “early days” to take a position on that, Clark said. “It is likely the countries themselves will decide on requirements.”
 
 

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