SINGAPORE - Asian Aerospace, the world's third biggest air
show, would be moving out of Singapore after its show next
February. This came as negotiations between the Singapore
government and one of the co-organisers of the show - Reed
Exhibitions - reportedly failed over the terms of a
replacement venue. Reed Exhibitions chairman Mike Rusbridge
said, "Right up until last Friday, (October 7) we have been
putting proposals to the Singapore Government but have been
unable to reach an agreement which responds to the needs of
our customers and which is also economically viable for
them. "We did not feel that the proposed Singapore
government solution would respond adequately to the
requirements of a modern Aerospace event. "Rushbridge said
they are in active negotiations with several alternative
locations, "which we believe will serve the changing
economic landscape of the Asia region, and provide a
platform for further growth for our customers for the long
term." An announcement would be made soon on the new venue.
The Singapore government is backing a new air show - Changi
International Airshow - to be managed by a
government-linked company headed by airline veteran Lim
Chin Beng. The new company, Changi International Airshow
& Events, is a joint venture between the Civil Aviation
Authority of Singapore and the Defence Science &
Technology Agency. Singapore's Economic Development Board
(EDB) said Reed Exhibitions could not agree on the
development of an alternative site at Changi North offered
by the government. The biennial Asian Aerospace has been
held at Changi Exhibition Centre since 1988.