This website uses cookies
More information
Business Air News Bulletin
Business Air News Bulletin
The monthly news publication for aviation professionals.
Related background information from the Handbook...
The monthly news publication for aviation professionals.

Request your printed copy

HAI makes difficult decision to push expo back a year
It was only a short time ago that HAI was stressing its commitment to the 2021 outing of Heli-Expo, and pressing on with the organising. But a groundswell of opinion has led the association in a different direction.

Responding to an increasing number of voices from across the vertical takeoff and landing industry, Helicopter Association International (HAI) has made the difficult decision to cancel HAI Heli-Expo 2021.

HAI will not reschedule this year's event. Instead, the association will redirect its efforts to producing HAI Heli-Expo 2022, which will be held 7-10 March in Dallas, Texas, a city that has traditionally been a hub of rotorcraft operations. HAI Heli-Expo has long served as a venue where the international VTOL industry annually gathers to connect, learn and conduct $2 billion in business.

“Please understand that we did not make this decision lightly,” says James Viola, president and CEO of HAI. “HAI is here to support our members and customers. Leading up to mid-January,  the majority of  industry voices who contacted us supported holding Heli-Expo  as long as  health and safety protocols were in place.  We took extraordinary steps, working with our partners in New Orleans, to be able to conduct a safe event.”

As a mid-January deadline for exhibitors approached, the world also saw a spike in COVID-19 cases. “Pandemic conditions have changed, and the majority of our stakeholders have recently expressed discomfort with the logistics involved in business travel at this time,” Viola continues. “In response, we concluded that we had to  cancel  HAI Heli-Expo 2021. We're grateful for the honest feedback that we received from our members, exhibitors, attendees and other stakeholders. Like many others during this past year, we have had to adjust course in response to changing conditions. We firmly believe that the flexibility that our industry has demonstrated throughout this pandemic will help our businesses and individuals persevere and strengthen.”

HAI is beginning to reach out to exhibitors, attendees, vendors and other HAI Heli-Expo 2021 stakeholders. Exhibitors have multiple options for their booth payments, including pushing participation and payment to the 2022 show in Dallas, repurposing dollars to other HAI advertising or sponsorship opportunities to support their business objectives in 2021 or receiving a full refund.

Registered attendees will receive a full refund, as will those who registered for HAI Professional Education courses. HAI's housing vendor, OnPeak, will cancel all hotel reservations booked within the HAI block. Registered attendees, HAI Professional Education course registrants and those with hotel reservations within the HAI block will receive additional communication from HAI within the next five to seven business days.

Other News
 
Helicopter, rotorcraft, vertical - what's in a name?
March 5, 2024
HAI rebrands to reflect new era in vertical flight
February 27, 2024
Heli-Expo show uses biofuel to reduce carbon footprint
February 22, 2024
Becker's Yip recognised by HAI for maintenance record
January 27, 2024
Rainbow Helicopters receives HAI's Salute to Excellence Humanitarian Service
January 22, 2024
When fires destroyed the town of Lahaina in Hawaii, Nicole Battjes was spurred into action. She and her team shopped for and ferried supplies over many weeks and the company is being recognised for its efforts.