• 12 leading Irish aviation and aerospace companies have already signed up to be present at the ‘Irish Aviation House’.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 05 August 2021- Irish industry stakeholders from the world of aviation and aerospace have quickly signed up to participate at this year’s Dubai Airshow – the only fully physical international show confirmed for the sector this year.

With only 100 days to go, the Airshow comes at an important time for the global aviation and aerospace industry as the world begins to recover from the impact of the global pandemic. The year 2020 has indeed been the most difficult in the history of aviation with international passenger demand decreasing by 75.6 percent compared to 2019 and down by 67.6 percent across the Middle East. The global outbreak of COVID-19 and the resulting travel restrictions, decimated travel demand and led to significant financial losses. IATA reports that global passenger revenues (revenue passenger-kilometres (RPKs)) fell by 69 percent to $189 billion compared to 2019.

The Dubai Airshow is ready and primed to be a strong catalyst for the sector to convene and fuel business opportunities at a time when airlines are preparing for a strong rebound as well as acting as a meeting point for the brightest minds in the industry. Irish partners are coming together to support one another on the global stage and play their part in the global recovery.

Enterprise Ireland, the Irish government’s innovation and trade agency, will facilitate and host 12 Irish companies at the 2021 Dubai Airshow, including household names like Dublin Aerospace, Botany Weaving and Atlantic Aviation Group. Developed with a collaborative approach at its core, the strategy for this year is focused on showcasing the full strength of Irish aviation to airlines, equipment manufacturers and government bodies across the region.

Enterprise Ireland will present the ‘Irish Aviation House’, a new concept and standalone chalet in a prime location along the runway marking a bigger investment and presence than ever before. This new approach will support Irish companies within the aviation and aerospace industry to create an impact on a global scale. The chalet’s prime position on the runway not only offers the best views of the Airshow, but also allows key partners to exhibit their winning innovative products and services in a more compelling setting that welcomes maximum footfall in a safe environment.

“We have designed the Irish Aviation House and programme throughout Dubai Airshow 2021 to showcase the full depth and expertise across the Irish aviation and aerospace industries. The 12 companies from Ireland have been selected with the aim of highlighting the full spectrum of Irish capabilities to a wider audience, and to demonstrate how we can all work together on the global stage,” said Alan O’ Mahony, Market Adviser for Aviation and Aerospace at Enterprise Ireland MENA.

Irish businesses at Dubai Airshow 2021

Offering key decision makers, customers, and other peers a safe environment, adhering to COVID-19 rules, the Irish Aviation House will play host to hugely successful businesses like Dublin Aerospace, Atlantic Aviation Group, Eirtech Aviation Services, Aero Inspection, Botany Weaving, Aero Aid, Emerald Aero Group, Innalabs, Airtel ATN, VRAI, and Shannon IASC to network and explore the latest developments in the sector.

Dublin Aerospace, a locally grown and globally focused operator for maintenance, repair, and overhaul services, is one of Enterprise Ireland’s client companies with a significant presence across the Middle East and North African markets. Recently, they successfully secured a major heavy aviation maintenance contract with the national carrier for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – SAUDIA.

Established in 1934, the family run business of Botany Weaving is an Airbus and Boeing-approved manufacturer of aircraft carpet and fabric, with the knowledge and expertise to manage any line fit or aftermarket projects. Its customers in the region include Etihad, Emirates, Gulf Air, Air Arabia, Fly Dubai, and Royal Jordanian where they provide unique designed and tailored materials for use as seat covers, curtains and other fabrics.

Even throughout the most challenging year, the Irish aviation sector has been preparing for growth and are well placed to support the industry bounce back through collaborations with key strategic partners, enabling improved connectivity for millions of passengers.

Other external partners involved with the ‘Irish Aviation House’ at the internationally recognised event include the Irish Aviation Authority, Future Mobility Campus Ireland, and Tourism Ireland.

The global impact of Dubai Airshow 2021 and Outlook

With travel restrictions beginning to lift and as the global vaccination programmes take hold, the Airshow will play a pivotal role in helping the industry plan for the forecasted growth of passengers returning to the skies. Latest reports from IATA suggest a very strong increase in passenger numbers in 2022 and 2023 – with full recovery to pre-crisis levels in 2023. This is because travel barriers would be lifted more widely in 2022, pent-up demand released, and will be supported by strong consumer purchasing power.

Dubai Airshow organiser, 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 event brings together the entire aerospace ecosystem, showcasing the latest technology and innovation from across the industry. 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.”

Dubai Airshow 2021 will be held on 14-18 November 2021 at Dubai World Central (DWC), Dubai Airshow site.