Indonesia stages first international airshow in 30 years

Indonesia aims to make its influence known to the global aerospace scene as it stages its first international airshow in 30 years.

Scheduled for 18 to 21 September, the Bali International Airshow will be held at the Ngurah Rai International Airport backed by several major international aerospace companies.

Among those showcasing at the event are Airbus, Bell Helicopters, Boeing, Brahmos, Dassault Aviation, Embraer, Garuda Group, Leonardo (represented by its Asia-Pacific distributor Helitech Asia), Lion Air, MBDA, PT Dirgantara Indonesia, Textron Aviation, and Thales.

The participation of these global corporations underscores Indonesia’s long-term goal to become a pivotal player in the Asia-Pacific aerospace industry, as well as to solidify its growing presence in the global scene. 

As such, this international  airshow is a crucial step in the country’s journey towards becoming a regional hub for aerospace innovation and defence technology.

Indonesian coordinating minister for maritime and investment affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said: “Through these collaborations, Indonesia is now ready to stand alongside notable players in the global arena, making an international event like the Bali Airshow essential. The aviation landscape in Indonesia is on an upward trajectory, with a projected annual growth rate of 5 percent in the aircraft fleet over the next five years and Indonesia is estimated to be the fourth largest aviation market in 2037.”

A gathering of nations and aircraft

Among the expected dignitaries are top defence officials, ministers, and industry leaders from over 20 countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, South Korea, Australia, India, USA, Japan, New Zealand, China, Papua New Guinea, and Turkey.

The static displays on show at Bali International Airshow 2024 include commercial aircraft and military aircraft such as the F16 Fighting Falcon, Sukhoi SU27, C130J Super Hercules, CASA C212, EC275, and Embraer EMB314 Super Tucano among others. 

The airshow will also showcase two cutting-edge aircraft: the F-35A Lightning II from the Royal Australian Airforce and the Airbus A400M from the German Air Force. This highlights strong support from strategic countries to this event.