GACA to participate in BIAS

The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) will be participating in the fourth iteration of the Bahrain International Air Show (BIAS) for 2016, the Authority said in a statement.

Sulaiman Al Hamdan, the Authority’s President, will head its delegation to the three-day air show.

Besides the Authority, the Saudi section will include all Saudi carriers.

With its participation in this global event, the Authority aims to explore ways to enhance cooperation and strategic relationships between the two Kingdoms in general, and their aviation sectors in particular, and boost this relationship so as to contribute to the development of the Saudi aviation industry and enhance the global activities of Saudi carriers. It also aims to showcase its strategic initiatives to bolster the performance of the Kingdom’s civil aviation sector and boost its overall profitability.

The Authority’s presence at the show will enable it to highlight the Saudi civil aviation industry’s contributions to the national economy. Despite this being only its fourth iteration, the biennial BIAS has become a must-go for anyone concerned with civil and military aviation. It has proven to be vastly popular with aviation enthusiasts and show goers, with some 50,000 people visiting the last show in 2014 to see what 130 exhibitors from the civil and military aviation sectors of 33 countries had to showcase.

Having showcased 106 aircraft, the 2014 show saw $2.8 billion’s worth of deals and agreements.

Compared to the first BIAS held in 2010, this year’s show is expected to have as much as 60 per cent more participations. The show includes elaborate exhibitors’ sections with world-class specifications, as well as hospitality and transportation services.

Also, an additional area of 4,500 square meters has been added in order to give  opportunities to medium and small aviation companies. All available space has already been sold, with plans to expand the show’s area even more in the future to accommodate the mounting requests to participate.