Reed loses Singapore air show

Big news in the Asian exhibitions industry with a Reuters report that Reed has failed to renew its contract with the Singapore government to manage Asian Aerospace, the largest air show in Asia.

The report says:

Singapore will run an airshow on its own from 2008 onwards after it failed to reach a deal with the existing organisers.

It goes on to say:

The last show on the current site near the city-state's Changi airport -- run by Reed Exhibitions and Singapore defence and aircraft maintenance firm Singapore Technologies Engineering -- will take place in February next year.

ChannelNewsAsia, Singapore's own cable news TV station, says that the new fair will be called the Changi International Airshow. It adds that Reed is apparently looking to keep the Asian Aerospace name alive and find a new venue for the show. Langkawi and somewhere in Thailand would presumably be high on their list.

This is always a risk with any management contract but leaves Reed's south-east Asian portfolio looking awfully thin outside Thailand.

More insights also here including a statement from Reed Exhibitions chairman Mike Rushbridge.