NBAA responds to Textron Aviation’s decision to pull out of exhibiting at NBAA-BACE
September 26, 2024
NBAA issues statement respecting Textron Aviation’s decision to no longer participate as an exhibitor at this year’s National Business Aviation Association Conference & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE).
In response to Textron Aviation’s decision to no longer participate at this year’s event, Dan Hubbard, SVP communications at NBAA said: “We appreciate our partnership with Textron Aviation, as NBAA event exhibitors and key collaborators on the industry’s highest priorities, including aviation safety, sustainability and workforce development. We have been informed by company leadership that their focus on business operations will preclude their participation in NBAA-BACE this year. We respect their decision and look forward to welcoming their return to future NBAA events.”
Textron Aviation announced it is no longer participating at this year’s NBAA-BACE on Tuesday 25 September, less than one month before the event is due to take place in Las Vegas from 22-24 October. The aircraft manufacturer’s decision follows other OEMs including Gulfstream, who have also decided not to participate at the bi-annual business aviation event.
In a statement, Textron Aviation (which is the parent company of Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft) confirmed that alongside its affiliated company, TRU Simulation, it will not participate as exhibitors at the 2024 NBAA-BACE. “We appreciate our longstanding involvement with industry events that bring together customers and the general aviation community and look forward to future opportunities to showcase our industry-leading products,” the statement read.
Although not cited as a reason for pulling out of the show, the company is facing strike action, with members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) engaged in industrial action at Textron Aviation’s west campus, east campus, Wichita service center as well as its components manufacturing facility locations.
The statement simply said that as the business continues to “focus on designing and delivering the best aviation experience for its customers, it wants to maintain these operations during this time.”
