Coronavirus Outbreak Forces 15 Exhibitors to Pull Out of Singapore Airshow 2020

Fifteen exhibitors including ten from China alone have withdrawn from participating in the upcoming Singapore Airshow 2020 (February 11-16) at the Changi Exhibition Centre (CEC).

The announcement was made by Experia Events, the organizer of the airshow, on Tuesday. "Ten exhibitors from China and another five exhibitors from three countries have confirmed non-participation in Singapore Airshow 2020," Experia Events said in a statement.

On Monday, the South Korean Air Force's Black Eagles aerobatics team confirmed its non-participation at the event, as part of the Koreans’ broader precautions against the novel coronavirus situation.

China's Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd (COMAC) which is currently working on CRAIC CR929 250-to-350 seat wide-body twinjet airliner, is one of the companies to drop out of the event. The others include Zhuhai Airshow Company, United Enterprise Group, Ampaire Inc, Acevision, Ameco Beijing, Beijing Implant Science & Technology, China Aviation Industrial Base, China National Aero-Technology Import & Export, and Shandong Stopart Brake Materials.

The announcement has come even as the organizers have taken precautionary measures to keep the spread of the deadly 2019-nCoV Coronavirus in check. Major Chinese arms manufacturers, including those working on the third aircraft carrier and the J-15 fighter jets have stopped work indefinitely owing to fears of spreading the virus. Over 20,400 cases of coronavirus infection have been reported globally so far, with 420 deaths confirmed in China.

"Aligned with new measures announced by the national Multi-Ministry Task Force on 28 January 2020, we have informed all our exhibitors and attendees that with effect from 29 Jan 2020, entry into or transit through Singapore will not be permitted for visitors who have travelled to Hubei in the last 14 days, as well as holders of Chinese passports issued in Hubei," read an advisory from 28th January, on the official Singapore Airshow 2020 website.

The list released by the organizers includes two companies each from the United States (Gulfstream, Textron Aviation), Canada (CAE, Bombardier) and one from Germany (Stemme).

The organizers confirmed today that ALA Corporation of the UK have decided to proceed with their original plan to participate in the upcoming Singapore Airshow.

"In view of the evolving 2019 novel coronavirus situation, the organiser will introduce enhanced precautionary measures to safeguard the well-being and safety of all attendees. In addition to the current measures called out for at DORSCON yellow - enhanced cleaning and refuse management to maintain high standards of hygiene and cleanliness, availing hand sanitisers to attendees and a team of doctors and medics to attend to visitors who are feeling unwell - Experia Events will implement additional temperature screening at access points at Singapore Expo and CEC," the statement read.

The Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit (SAALS) 2020, a component of the Airshow programme involving 300 aviation leaders, comprising government officials, civil aviation authorities, airport operators and airline executives, will also not take place this year.