Friedrichshafen, Germany — Due to “challenges” caused by the spread of coronavirus COVID-19, organizers have cancelled AERO, the largest general aviation show in Europe.
“Messe Friedrichshafen is taking a serious but necessary step: Aviation show AERO will not be held in the planned period of April 1 to 4, 2020, but will be postponed to a date that has not yet been determined,” organizers reported March 6.
“The current situation with the coronavirus has resulted in a nasty domino effect,” says Klaus Wellmann, Managing Director of Messe Friedrichshafen.
The same decision had already been made for two additional events (Aqua-Fisch and IBO).
“The industry members of the general aviation community also see the health and economic risks of the upcoming trade fair as too high. We share this assessment, but it is with a heavy heart that we now need to take this serious step together.”
“As head of AERO Friedrichshafen, I have never experienced a comparable situation in the last 30 years,” added Roland Bosch. “In accordance with the saying ‘Complete safety is an illusion; there are only varying degrees of risk and uncertainty,’ we were convinced right up until the end that we would be able to overcome the challenge we were facing in the coronavirus. Despite the uncertainties, we believed AERO Friedrichshafen 2020, with participation of around 700 registered exhibitors, would be able to be held. However, in recent days we received a very large number of cancellations and clear signals from our exhibitors and potential visitors, making it impossible to hold the event now. We will postpone the AERO Friedrichshafen 2020 to a date not yet determined.”