Records Set As ABACE2013 Opens: More Exhibitors, More Aircraft, More Registered Attendees In Shanghai

Organizers also reported that more than 180 Exhibitors are on-site throughout the sold-out Exhibit floor - a total surpassing last year's impressive figure, and which also includes 40 companies based in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Static Display of Aircraft outside the Shanghai Hawker Pacific Business Aviation Centre is another ABACE record-breaker, with 34 aircraft on display.

The record numbers signify the excitement surrounding business aviation in the region, and around ABACE, the premier annual event that not only serves as a buying-and-selling marketplace, but as an advocacy venue for promoting the industry’s interests.

“We are delighted with the momentum for the show as it gets underway,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. The potential for business aviation in China and throughout Asia has broken through and is clearly visible to all, as demonstrated by the strong showing of Exhibitors, aircraft on the Static Display and registered Attendees.”

That message will continue to resonate throughout ABACE2013, and it will not be limited solely to Attendees on-site at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. News and announcements from ABACE2013 will be in headlines throughout the world, with more than 200 media organizations from across China and around the globe covering the event.

Top Chinese media outlets - including Xinhua News Agency, China News Service, Oriental Morning Post, Shanghai Business Daily and Shanghai Business News - have joined with other news organizations throughout the broader Asia-Pacific region in providing on-site reporting from the event.

Additionally, Western media outlets including CNN, Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and The Wall Street Journal have sent news teams to Shanghai, further demonstrating the significance of ABACE as the Asia-Pacific region’s foremost business aviation event.

“When you put all of this together, one thing is clear: With ABACE2013, Shanghai assumes the center of the world's business aviation stage,” Bolen noted at a Media Luncheon held before the show’s opening day. “This is an important moment for China. It is an important moment for Asia. And it is an important moment for business aviation in this region.”

In addition to record numbers of Exhibitors and aircraft on static display, as well as robust slate of Education Sessions, the first day of ABACE2013 included an Opening General Session featuring presentations by Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez, president of the council of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Gary Locke, the U.S. ambassador to China, Jiaxiang Li, minister of the Civil Aviation Authority of China, Xia Xinghua, deputy administrator of the Civil Aviation Authority of China, Jiang Ping, vice mayor of Shanghai and Nianzu Wu, chairman of the Shanghai Airport Authority.

NBAA Members may visit the official ABACE2013 website at www.abace.aero for complete highlights from the event.