Bali International Airshow To Return In 2025, As Indonesia Eyes A Larger Slice Of The Aerospace Pie

Aerospace and Defense Review | Monday, September 23, 2024

DENPASAR– After 28 years, Indonesia has successfully organised an international airshow held from 18 to 21 September in Bali, bringing together participation from 100 companies, and attended by almost more than 5300 trade attendees from 51 countries and regions. The Bali International Airshow 2024 marked a significant milestone in the aerospace and defense sectors for Indonesia, and underscores the importance and the advancement of Indonesia’s aerospace and defense industries, which serves as a testament to the country's expanding capabilities within the global aviation landscape.

The four-day extravaganza event was graced by various Ministers, led by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment of the Republic of Indonesia, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. Other Ministers in attendance over the four days included Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, Minister for Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia Budi Karya Sumadi and Minister for National Development Planning of the Republic of Indonesia Suharso Monoarfa, signalling support from the highest echelons of the Indonesian government.

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The airshow also marked a pivotal moment for Indonesia’s global diplomacy efforts, positioning the country as a key player in shaping the future of aerospace and defense collaborations, and in its ability to act as a bridge between global powers in Southeast Asia.

Reflecting on the success of the Bali International Airshow 2024, Mr. Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment for the Republic of Indonesia said, “The Bali International Airshow 2024 has delivered its aim to be Southeast Asia’s most eminent international exposition for aerospace, aero technology, and defense. It has brought Indonesia into the forefront of growth in the aviation and aerospace industries, leveraging innovation and stakeholder expertise through forums, dialogues and interactions with global exhibitors.”

Among the global brands which were a part of the airshow were Airbus, Bell Helicopters, Boeing, BrahMos, Dassault Aviation, Embraer, Garuda Group, Leonardo (represented by Helitech Asia - Asia-Pac distributor), Lion Air, MBDA, PT Dirgantara Indonesia, Textron Aviation, and Thales, with about 75% of the leading companies indicating that they will return to Bali for the next edition in 2025 from 24 to 27 September.

Significant Partnerships And Mous Signed At Bali Airshow

Multiple major partnerships were inked during the event including the signing of a “Cooperation Agreement” between Garuda Maintenance Facility (GMF) and Citilink Airline, a “Memorandum of Understanding” (MOU) signing between AirAsia and Airbus, a MOU signing between Boeing and Angkasa Pura Indonesia and a Letter of Intent (LOI) signing between PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) and PT Aviasi Perkasa.

Significantly, the Bali Airshow also was the platform to launch the first Bell 407 helicopter in Indonesia powered by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This partnership was made between Pertamina, in collaboration with Sayap Garuda Indah (SGI) and Bell Textron. This initiative is part of a broader effort to support decarbonization in the aviation sector.

These partnerships and linking of businesses will not only boost Indonesia’s economy, but will also accelerate the country’s growth over the next few decades. The agreements and deals will lead to increased investment, knowledge transfer, and economic growth for Indonesia, and will ultimately contribute to Indonesia's ambition to become a major hub for aviation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Another highlight of the Bali Airshow were the exclusive forums and dialogue sessions which were held. These involved the likes of Mr Tony Blair (Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom), Mr Jodi Mahardi (Deputy Minister for Maritime Sovereignty and Energy at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment of the Republic of Indonesia), Mr Tony Fernandes (Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Group) and Mr William Dickey (Director, Business Development for Bell Helicopter Textron Asia Pacific).

There were conversations around Indonesia’s potential as one of the sleeping giants of the aviation industry in the world with its air traffic expected to grow by 6% annually, alongside its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the next 10 years. With this, Indonesia is envisioned to undergo remarkable economic growth, establishing a solid foundation for the nation and the region’s aviation market expansion.

With the government's commitment to developing comprehensive policies for the regulation of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) through a new roadmap and action plan, it is pointed out that these regulations will address the increasing demands of the aviation industry. This initiative is also expected to attract additional investment, positioning Indonesia to become the fourth largest aviation market in the world, as relayed by Professor Wihana Kirana Jaya, Special Staff for Economic Affairs and Transportation Investment from Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation.

The Bali International Airshow 2024 also drew attention to Bali’s dual role as both an aviation hub and a world-class tourist destination. The event stimulated tourism through hotel reservations, a demand for public services and food and beverage options, which directly contributed to Bali’s economy while enhancing Indonesia's global profile.

Air And Static Displays A Firm Favourite

More than 5,000 attendees who visited the Bali International Airshow on Public Day on 21 September were enthralled by the hardware which was on display on the tarmac at the South Apron area of the Bali International Airport.

Most popular were the 16 static displays from commercial aircraft to military aircraft including the F16 Fighting Falcon, C130J Super Hercules, C-212 Aviocar, EC725, EMB-314 Super Tucano, the F-35A Lightning II and the A400M Atlas. The Jupiter Aerobatic Team and Neptunus Aerobatic Team from Indonesia, along with a solo performance by the F-35A Lightning II from Australia, delivered a stunning series of displays that showcased the teams' skill and commitment. The Jupiter Aerobatic Team (Indonesian Air Force) flew six KT-1B Wong Bee aircraft, while the Neptunus Aerobatic Team (Indonesian Naval Aviation Center) flew six Bonanza G36 light aircraft to perform complex manoeuvres across the Bali skies. Meanwhile, the Royal Australian Air Force flew solo in the F-35A Lightning II

The Return Of The Airshow In 2025

The airshow will return to Indonesia in 2025, and will take place in every odd year thereafter. This was sealed through a LOI which was signed during the opening ceremony on 18 September 2024, involving the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, the Ministry of Defense, PT Aviasi Pariwisata Indonesia (InJourney), which manages Indonesia's aviation and tourism sectors, along with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI AU) and event organisers PT Inaro Tujuh Belas.

The LOI outlined a proposal from the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment to establish a cooperation agreement among the stakeholders, aimed at strengthening global collaboration within the industry. This initiative supported Indonesia’s advancement in technology, innovation, and tourism.

“This show marked a significant first step in reviving international airshows in Indonesia. By adopting the term ‘Indonesia International Airshow,’ we could facilitate future events across various provinces in the archipelago. This is Indonesia’s commitment not only to the aviation industry but also to promoting tourism throughout Indonesia, and in helping to develop Indonesia’s economy to lift the livelihoods of fellow Indonesians. We will get bigger and aim to get a lot better in how we run the Airshow.” added Mr. Pandjaitan.

The organisers of the Bali International Airshow also paid tribute to the residents of Bali for their support over the week of the event, and thanked them for their warm hospitality in welcoming guests from all over the world.

“Bali always has a special place in the hearts of people from all over the world. The warmth was once again on display as many residents were involved through the work which they did - from ferrying our guests to and from the venue, to the many workers in food and beverage outlets who ensured that our guests were well taken care of. The Bali International Airshow has brought about a significant amount of positive impact for the people of Bali and Indonesia, and we look forward to the next edition of the airshow,” said Mr Andy Wismarsyah, CEO of PT Inaro Tujuh Belas, the organisers of the Bali International Airshow 2024.

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