At the conclusion of the first ever EBACE Connect, organisers report that the digital event performed beyond expectations, demonstrating the global business aviation community's eagerness to embrace the future, focus on new opportunities and fire the imagination. Held 18-20 May, EBACE Connect was presented by EBAA and NBAA.

“We are thrilled to see so much enthusiasm across the industry,” says EBAA secretary general Athar Husain Khan. “We launched EBACE Connect to bring the business aviation community together and share our vision for the future. This week showed how busy this industry is forging that vision.”

NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen adds: “At this pivotal moment, we came to EBACE Connect to plan for post pandemic growth. As the week made clear, business aviation is focused on much more than returning to normal; our industry is evolving, coming back stronger, more adaptive and more innovative than ever.”

EBAA and NBAA pointed to several standout indicators of the event's success:

More than 1,600 attendees participated in the programme, which featured keynote discussions with aviation leaders and visionaries. Famed pilot and philanthropist Erik Lindbergh opened the programme by sharing personal insights on the next great era in aviation. On day two, a Lightning Round session with the CEOs of all the major business aircraft OEMs highlighted their perspectives.

The EBACE Connect panel sessions likewise focused on business aviation's future, covering advanced air mobility, safety regulation for new technologies, growing beyond COVID, market trends and sustainability.

The full lineup of sponsored Thought Leadership sessions featured business aviation entrepreneurs and leaders discussing topics such as the evolving workplace, data-management best practices and cloud-based tools for flight operations.

Major OEMs and leading service providers filled the press day before the programme on May 17, with six announcements of exciting new products and offerings. Nearly 100 journalists from around the world registered for the press day, and covered EBACE Connect.

“We share in the sense that, even in this most challenging year, business aviation has been laying the groundwork for big changes,” continues Khan. “At EBACE Connect, we set our sights higher in pursuit of an exciting future.”

In 2022, EBACE will return to Geneva airport and Palexpo in Switzerland. The in-person exhibition will take place 23-25 May.