The European Business Aviation Association and National Business Aviation Association have cancelled the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition 2020, due to concerns related to the rapidly evolving coronavirus outbreak.
The event was scheduled to take place in Geneva from May 26-28, 2020.
The aviation groups said the decision was taken after closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19, which has prompted daily, evolving announcements from government and medical authorities in the USA and Europe, impacting large public gatherings, travel planning and other decision-making.
The organizations’ decision came as the Swiss authorities announced that all events of more than 100 people will be banned until at least April 30. The Swiss authorities have also said they are to reintroduce Schengen border checks.
National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) president and CEO Ed Bolen said, “As with all NBAA events, we view our participants as partners, whose health and well-being is our foremost concern, and that priority is front and center in our decision to cancel EBACE 2020”.
European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) secretary-general Athar Husain Khan said, “This is the hardest decision EBAA’s management and board of governors have had to make in years. But given the unprecedented circumstances, we had no other choice. We must do everything we can to help protect against exposure to COVID-19, and mitigate any risks associated with the spread of the virus.”
Bolen said, “We will keep our international partners and members informed with regard to how this challenging public health situation impacts events in the coming months.”
