Singapore air show lifts off amid challenges

More than 1,000 companies take part

- JULIE ZHU JUN YUAN YONG

An Airbus' A350-1000 airliner performs a flyover at the Singapore Airshow on Tuesday.

(AFP)

Singapore kicked off Asia's biggest aviation gathering on Tuesday as the industry looks to meet ambitious regional growth targets despite widespread supply chain shortages that have delayed many aircraft deliveries.

More than 1,000 companies are participating in the 10th edition of the biennial Singapore Airshow, from industry giants like Airbus and Boeing to local champion ST Engineering and a new wave of drone-focused defence firms like Anduril Industries and Shield AI.

Close to 60,000 people attended the four trade days of the prior show in 2024, and organisers have said they are expecting even better numbers this year after the debut of an accompanying space summit where Singapore said on Monday it would launch its own space agency.

The Asia-Pacific region is the world’s fastest-growing region for air travel, propelled by China and India, with passenger traffic growth of 7.3% projected for 2026, but plane makers and engine manufacturers are struggling to keep up with demand for fleet expansions.