ABACE organizers are forecasting 175 exhibitors at next month’s show (to be held from April 16 to 18) and no small number of those from all corners of the globe will be from the cabin completion and refurbishment industry segment and its suppliers.
Actual numbers were reported at 8,000 visitors with over 500 exhibitors.
Flying Colours of Peterborough, Ontario completed and delivered four Challenger 850s in the region and it has five more of that model in the pipeline, with completion and delivery to China expected within the next 12 months. Additionally Flying Colours delivered two Global Express major refurbishments for Chinese clients last year. By the year-end, Flying Colours will have delivered a total of 15 Challenger 850s to China.
Aircraft interiors design and engineering firm Talco of San Antonio is forging closer ties with a number of refurbishment centers in Asia, including Ameco, Jet Aviation and Taeco. According to president and CEO Tom Langeland, there is growing demand in China for cabin refurbishment that is technology driven. With that in mind, Talco has opened an office in Hong Kong and has local representation in Xiamen.
Aeria Luxury Interiors, launched last year at the Singapore Air Show, is also in San Antonio. Part of ST Aerospace of Singapore, it has already signed two projects with Chinese clients: a BBJ that required a maintenance check as well as interior work, and a Boeing 767-200ER for major refurbishment.
Associated Air Center based in Dallas, USA delivered two Boeing Business Jets to operators in China last year.
Within China itself is Ameco Beijing, now a joint partner with Lufthansa Technik. The center is new to business and private aircraft support and is rapidly expanding is refurbishment activity.
Also in China is Taikoo, better known in the West as Taeco (Taikoo Aircraft Engineering Company). The Xiamen-based center is the first and only center with authorisation from both Airbus and Boeing to provide cabin outfitting.
Moving to Southern-Asia Jet Aviation Singapore has increased its focus on cabin refurbishment completing projects for numerous clients.
In Europe, SR Technics of Zurich, Switzerland delivered its first major cabin refurbishment to a Chinese client last year and OHS Aviation Services in Berlin is collaborating with Honeywell and Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services to do a major cabin refurbishment of an Asian customer’s Global Express.
Jet Aviation, AMAC and Lufthansa all operate large scale completions activity from central Europe and will be looking to China as part of its future portfolio of projects..
China as a market continues to grow, with owners preferring larger cabin private jets and bizliners to smaller private aircraft.
This is good news to completion centers world-wide as they look to China and the Pacific Rim as a significant part of the long-term market.
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