After much speculation, the Singapore authorities have confirmed that Asian Aerospace is moving to a new site in 2008.
Dr Tony Tan, deputy prime minister and coordinating minister for Security And Defence, announced the plan in his speech at the show's opening ceremony on Monday night.
"The government has decided to build a brand new home at a larger, better-equipped exhibition centre located at Changi North for the 2008 airshow," he said.
"The new exhibition centre will be equipped with the most modern facilities to enable exhibitors to show their products and services and participants to attend the show, transact deals and meet with their business contacts comfortably and conveniently."
The announcement was welcomed by Mike Rusbridge, chairman of show organiser Reed Exhibitions. If he has his way, the new home for Asian Aerospace will be what he calls an "ideal venue" for the region's top airshow.
Rusbridge wouldn't be drawn on specifics such as the size of the site or development cost, hinting it might be impolitic to comment on details of a project which is a Singapore government-funded initiative.
But he says the government has all of Reed's input on specifications for the site and structures, including what exhibitors and participants want. They include a more "structured" layout, with a series of interconnected halls and spaces, roughly double the present capacity. That should address criticism of the hard-standing of the current site, which users have said could be more accessible. Parking space, a bane for many visitors, should also improve.
Work, including access roads, has already begun on the new site at the northern tip of new Runway 3 at Changi airport.
MARTIN SOONG
Source: Flight Daily News