Airbus gets ready for Seoul ADEX 2021

Airbus jets and helicopter [AIRBUS]

Airbus reaffirmed its commitment to partnerships with Korea ahead of the Seoul ADEX 2021 exhibition.

The Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition, or ADEX 2021, is taking place at the Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, from Oct. 19 through Oct. 22.

Airbus is showing a number of models at the exhibition, including the long range A350-1000 widebody airliner and A400M military airliner.

“Korea is a key market for Airbus, with a customer base across all areas of the business, and [we have] important strategic partnerships with the local industry,” said Anand Stanley, Airbus Asia-Pacific President, at a press event held on Monday.

“We are committed to maintaining our level of engagement and to exploring further opportunities, working closely with our customers, partners and suppliers. This will include identifying potential new collaborations in the fields of new technologies, alternative power sources and digitalization, to ensure a sustainable future for our industry.”

Domestic suppliers to Airbus include Korea Aerospace Industries and Korean Air's Aerospace Business Division.

Stanley added that Airbus sourcing of supplies in Korea was valued at around $800 million in 2019.

In regards to the recovery of the airline industry, he said, "We will see signs of recovery in 2020, but the real recovery will only start in 2023 to 2025."

He added, "It'll be beyond 2023 that we will start to see recovery as the border restrictions go down, quarantine restrictions go away, and vaccinations in place in the Asia-Pacific region."

BY JIN MIN-JI [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]