EBACE 2020 – which was scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, on 26-28 May 2020 – has been cancelled in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The organisers – European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) – have closely monitored the spread of COVID-19, which has prompted daily, evolving announcements from government and medical authorities in the USA and Europe, impacting large public gatherings, travel planning and other decision-making.
The partner organisations’ decision came as the Swiss authorities announced that all events of more than 100 people were banned until at least 30 April. The Swiss authorities also said they would reintroduce Schengen border checks.
“As with all NBAA events, we view our participants as partners, whose health and well-being is our foremost concern, and that priority is front and centre in our decision to cancel EBACE 2020,” said Ed Bolen, president and CEO at NBAA.
“This is the hardest decision EBAA’s management and board of governors have had to make in years,” said Athar Husain Khan, EBAA secretary general. “But given the unprecedented circumstances, we had no other choice. We must do everything we can to help protect against exposure to COVID-19, and mitigate any risks associated with the spread of the virus.”
The two cosponsoring partners agreed that exhibit and registration fees will be refunded in full. For more information, attendees should write to registration@ebace.aero, and exhibitors should write to exhibits@ebace.aero.
“We will keep our international partners and members informed with regard to how this challenging public health situation impacts events in the coming months,” said Bolen.
The cancellation of EBACE 2020 follows the earlier postponement of Aircraft Interiors Expo, which was due to be held in Hamburg, Germany, from 30 March to 2 April 2020.
NBAA has cancelled all its scheduled events and meetings through to 1 July 2020. “We are working to explore opportunities to provide a virtual platform to share some of the valuable content from those gatherings, and we will provide details as soon as they are available,” said Bolen.
Information on COVID-19, continually updated by NBAA, is available here, while the latest EBAA updates can be found here.
