This year’s Paris Air Show has been described by the organisers as a resounding success and bore witness to a host of changes, including a ‘sectorisation’ programme. Marketing director Fabrice Galzin told EBAN: “We focused on exhibitors and conferences from each particular sector of aviation. It’s a way of making the different fields and technologies more visible to the professionals at our show.

“We know that the buyers of business aircraft, in particular, are an elite group so we also tried to improve our services for vips at the show – for example, with a chalet for exhibitors to meet vips,” said Galzin.

We asked how he responded to the criticism that the Paris Air Show was too large and too diverse for visitors to meet the right people. “The ‘sectorisation’ obviously makes the business aviation park (for example) more visible to the visitor. Also we’ve been looking at the possibility of developing new shows at other times of the year, probably to be held at Le Bourget.

“We could then focus independently on each different form of aviation appearing at the major show. I think it’s unlikely that this would start before 2004 at the earliest though,” he added.

With particular regard to the business aviation sector, Galzin dismissed suggestions that Cessna and Gulfstream purposefully boycotted this year’s exhibition.

He said: “There has been absolutely no boycott from US companies or the Pentagon; we contacted

them ourselves.

“Cessna and Gulfstream both chose not to participate around a year ago, so it has nothing to do with Iraq. They told us that the decision was purely down to economic factors and that they would return in 2005, once the economy has improved.

“We have tried to stop the rumours and if you ask the US government or the Association for American Industries, they all say there is no boycott. The only problem we’re having now is convincing

the journalists.”

Asked whether the EBACE convention had overshadowed business aviation participation at Paris, Galzin replied: “It’s true that EBACE occurred just one month before our show and Cessna and Gulfstream were both present there, but I don’t think it has really affected us.

“If manufacturers had the money, they would exhibit at both shows and personally I think they complement each other.

“Obviously Dassault still exhibited at this year’s show, along with Raytheon, Bombardier and Embraer, who showcased their whole range of aircraft.

“A number of SMEs also participated, including interior outfitters and other mechanical subcontractors.”