All of the signs indicate a good year for business aviation in 2019, in particular in North Africa, according to Ali Alnaqbi, Founding & Executive Chairman of the Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA). With the MEBAA Show Morocco set to take place 25-26 September at Marrakech Menara Airport, the show plans to showcase this success in the region.

 

The JSSI Business Aviation Index report showed business jet utilisation in Africa was 17.4% up in 2018 on the previous year, significantly larger than any other region. In the absence of Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), business jet operators benefit from more agility than their commercial counterparts.  Rather than personal use or tourism, it is commerce and gaps from the commercial sector driving the African business aviation market.

 

The National Airports Authority (ONDA) in Morocco reports that the country’s airports manage 50% of North Africa’s business jet movements.  Given 1,200 business aircraft are expected to make 175,000 individual aircraft movements by 2020 in MENA, the Moroccan government’s strategy to attract the industry has significant forethought.

 

The MEBAA Show Morocco will again bring together the key players in business aviation in addition to featuring a static display of the latest business aircraft. Already committed to exhibit are local and international names including Air Ocean Maroc and Milano Prime, all of whom have exhibited before, plus new names who are keen to be involved in this burgeoning market, such as AMAC Aerospace. 

 

“All the signs – plus of course the interest from the industry – point to a good year for business aviation in 2019 and I am very much looking forward to September when the show will take place - preceded by the MEBAA Conference where the market will be discussed in detail by representatives of key industry and government organisations,” said Alnaqbi.

 

The MEBAA Conference Morocco, featuring key business leaders and roundtables to promote discussion and share industry knowledge, will take place the day before the event, 24 September, at the Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech. For more information or to book your space, please visit www.mebaamorocco.aero or see the team on stand T33 at EBACE.