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

Indonesia once again successfully organised an international airshow held from 18 to 21 September in Bali. The event brought together participation from 100 companies, and was 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. It underscored 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 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.

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.

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. About 75% of the leading companies indicated 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 also 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 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 decarbonisation 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.

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.

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.

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. The parties involved were 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.

For more information, visit www.BaliAirshow.com.