Press Release

Issued by Asian Business Aviation Association.

April 12, 2016

Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA), the Asian region's not-for-profit representative trade body for business aviation kicked off ABACE with media day, its annual general meeting, and the VIP media cocktail.

Media day at ABACE was well attended by local, regional, and global media outlets that came to hear Ed Bolen, president of NBAA, introduce senior dignitaries from the airport and civil aviation ahead of ABACE16. AsBAA's chairman, Charlie Mularski also opened media day and shared AsBAA's activities and highlights for ABACE as co-host, which include the education sessions (Tuesday and Wednesday), and a student day on Thursday.

Ed Bolen spoke of ABACE's growth since its inception in 2012, talking specifically of business aviation, “growing, evolving, and diversifying”. Mr. Bolen also spoke of the achievements of associations, NBAA and AsBAA in helping to increase awareness of the benefits of business and general aviation to public bodies so that they can support the industry. Emphasising the important role the business aviation industry plays as an economic driver, business efficiency facilitator, and tool for humanitarian purposes, Mr. Bolen went on to inform the audience of the aircraft on the static display at ABACE, including business jets, turbo-props, and an air ambulance, which are representative of the growing and diversifying uses of business and general aviation.

The AsBAA AGM was hosted at Space Eagle in the afternoon this year and was well attended by over 90 of its members. AsBAA chairman Charlie Mularski and other AsBAA board of governors introduced to attendees including highlights from 2015, events for 2016, latest AsBAA development across the region, and results of an interactive members' “Market Perceptions” survey focusing on both the development of business aviation across the region and how AsBAA could better help the industry's future development. Mr Mularski said, “In summary, 2015 was a great year of successful events, a lot of regulatory and infrastructure challenges but unprecedented working relationships with civil aviation departments, great brand building, and continued and effective engagement of all Board and leadership members. This year was AsBAA's strongest year since inception more than 10 years ago. However, this success comes with a high investment of both time and money. Our BoD is extremely thankful for your contribution and dedication, whether you are a board of governors volunteer, a regular attendee to our regional meetings, or a passionate member without much time to spend on behalf of AsBAA, we give you a big thank you. We also appreciate the trust and support of our platinum members, who greatly support our operating budget”.

Mr. Ed Bolen also delivered a presentation at the AsBAA AGM. Speaking of ABACE's significant growth since 2012 to the biggest and most diverse static display, representing the multiple capabilities of business aviation, he also emphasised that “business aviation is evolving, growing, and increasing its visibility, and it is essential that public bodies understand the importance of business aviation as a job creator, business tool that increases efficiency and drives economic growth”. He went on to thank AsBAA for its help in co-hosting ABACE, saying “we would like to thank AsBAA for its tremendous work in helping us to raise the bar with the standard of our education sessions. We are also very much looking forward to the student day on Thursday. AsBAA has done great work in helping young people understand the benefits of business aviation as new jobs creator, and long term career opportunity for and fresh graduates.”

When it comes to the wider industry, Mr. Ed Bolen shared MBWA's belief that “we share common complaints and issues, but through organisations such as AsBAA and IBAC, we can collectively resolve and tackle such issues. We can bring a greater awareness of the benefits of our industry so that the policy makers are more supportive of our objectives, and they become common goals for economic, efficiency, and humanitarian purposes." He summed up by saying, “To achieve growth in business aviation we require constant, collective, and consistent attention. This way, we can grow business aviation globally, connecting people, businesses, cultures, and making the world a smaller place”.

AsBAA's chairman and leadership team shared that 2015 was the best year ever for AsBAA since its establishment 10 years ago. The not-for-profit association now has over 100 members, and has held the most regional meetings to date. Great progress has been made addressing regulatory challenges and in engaging governments in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, greater China, and Vietnam. In addition to sharing the achievements, Mr. Charlie Mularski also addressed the following challenges that AsBAA would continue to focus on in its years to come and would greatly appreciate more help from the industry, including infrastructure limitation at HKIA, Indonesia regulatory limitations, and member access to market intelligence, CAAC data and CAAC meetings, amongst others.

Mr. Charlie Mularski also reviewed AsBAA's financials of 2015: AsBAA membership is up 25%, with a new introduction of small company and individual membership levels increasing overall uptake; expenditure cut has been made by 25%, while total funding's lowered significantly due to the investments made into more networking events.

AsBAA extended great appreciation to its new platinum members including Boeing Business Jet, Bombardier, Embraer Executive Jets, Gulfstream, Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre, Jeppesen, L'Voyage, and Universal Weather & Aviation, 27 new members, and media partners, before sharing a regional update from mainland China, Hong Kong, and south east Asia. The AGM concluded with an interactive audience market perceptions QA which released the results of the AsBAA members' survey.