Asian Aerospace to Hong Kong

Speculation has been rife since we reported back in October that Reed and Singapore had fallen out over Asian Aerospace over where the event would re-appear. Three cities had seemed to be in the running. Well, local newspapers (I'll link to The Standard because it's free) are reporting this morning that Hong Kong has come out the winner.

The event will kick off at AsiaWorld-Expo in September next year although, it would appear, without a military component. Discussions are reportedly still under way with neighbouring Zhuhai (site of an existing, major China air show) for that.

Presumably Hong Kong's capacity to straddle a China position and an Asian regional role saw it win out over rivals Shanghai and Bangkok.

Now the gloves will come off as Reed goes all out to convince exhibitors in Singapore next week (at the final Asian Aerospace there) that the 'real' show is the new one in Hong Kong and not the upstart Changi International Airshow launched by its former show manager Jimmy Lau and various Singapore aviation industry interests.