In a couple of decades, EBACE 2023 will be remembered as one of the early 2020s gatherings where the existence of European business aviation was at stake. Against a backdrop of climate and biodiversity urgency, established players and startups are pitching ideas, debating and striving to make some promising concepts a reality.
One of them, of course, is sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). The industry is making a huge bet, as it hopes SAF will account for two thirds of its CO2 emissions reduction. The challenge lies in the unprecedented ramp-up required for such a product. At least, demand is becoming widespread amongst business aircraft users and high prices seem to be accepted.
The environmental stances authorities are taking at local, national and European levels will be closely followed. Center-right governments have announced measures that green parties used to see in only their wildest dreams.
The administrations intend to curb what is being increasingly perceived as unfounded use of a CO2-intensive means of transportation. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol wants to ban private jets and small private aviation because they cause a disproportionate amount of noise nuisance and CO2 emissions per passenger. It plans to still allow police and ambulance flights. French Transport Minister Clement Beaune recently announced an unspecified additional contribution for business aviation, after a new fiscal measure in the budget for 2023.
Meanwhile, EBACE organizers may wonder whether their security framework is strong enough to counter the cunning tactics environmental protestors have used in the recent past at business aviation shows and airports.
The event will also be an occasion to remember the late Athar Husain Khan, secretary-general of the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), who died suddenly on March 26. Husain Khan led EBAA since July 2018 and had been involved in European and international aviation for more than 30 years. A champion for European business aviation, his human qualities will be remembered. He was also known for raising awareness against wildlife trafficking, a topic that was close to his heart.
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