It is goodbye to Asian Aerospace 2008 and hello to the new Changi International Airshow.
This comes after organisers of Asian Aerospace and the Economic Development Board failed to agree on development plans for a new site, and to have the airshow as a long-term feature in Singapore.
Asian Aerospace will be flying high no more after 2006.
Next year's show in February will be its last at the current location before the site is redeveloped for airport expansion.
Come 2008, Asian Aerospace will be replaced by the Changi International Airshow.
To be organised by Changi International Airshow and Events Pte Ltd, the show will be held every two years at a new 24-hectare site in Changi North.
Plans for the site include a purpose-built air-conditioned exhibition hall and adjoining apron space for aircraft static displays, all part of the bid to play host to a world-class airshow.
A joint venture between the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and the Defence Science and Technology Agency, the new company will be headed by aviation veteran Lim Chin Beng.
The Economic Development Board has welcomed the move and is giving full support to the initiative.
S$6 billion worth of aviation contracts were signed at Asian Aerospace last year, which attracted some 23,000 visitors.
Any change to Asian Aerospace could have an impact on the Singapore economy, which has always brought multi-million-dollar spin-offs for the hotel, retail, airline and travel industries.
But industry watchers say they do not expect any changes as the Changi International Airshow will take its place.
Organisers of Asian Aerospace, Reed Exhibitions, said it was not the end of the road for the airshow.
They are in negotiations with several locations and once these are concluded, the future venue will be announced.
It said the current location in Singapore did not meet its customers' changing needs and they failed to reach a mutually acceptable solution with the Singapore Government. - CNA /ch
Seems it is getting support from Boeing for the Changi Air Show...
But AA has comed a long way from PLAB days