After fears that this year's Australian International Airshow would not measure up to the post-COVID euphoria of Avalon 2023, AMDA Foundation announced yesterday that the trade day attendance had eclipsed the last show by more than 10,000 people.
The result took the attendance for the three industry-only days to 60,000, which is also 20,000 more than the 2019 air show.
It was a result that pleased Justin Giddings, CEO of Avalon Australian International Airshow organiser AMDA Foundation.
“Avalon 2025 was all about engagement between industry, defence, the aviation and aerospace community and the general public,” Giddings said.
“Feedback from our exhibitors and air force is that once again the airshow achieved this with flying colours, including the largest industry presence we have ever had at the event.”
Avalon 2025 featured more than 350 aircraft in the air and on the ground, including 45 aerial display aircraft and 64 on ground display.
Whilst celebrating the post-show result, AMDA Foundation took a moment to acknowledge the aircraft accident during the public airshow on Friday, when Paul Bennet Airshows pilot Glenn Collins collided with the ground during a four-ship aerobatic sequence.
“Aviation is a tight knit community, and an incident like this affects us all,” Giddings said. “Our thoughts are with Paul Bennet Airshows pilot Glenn Collins, his family and his team during this difficult time.
“The Paul Bennet Airshows team are all highly skilled professionals who have participated in our airshows for many years, always with a focus on delivering an exciting but safe performance. We look forward to welcoming the team at future events.”
Giddings also hailed the success of the AMDA Foundation STEM program, which saw more than 7000 secondary and tertiary students participating in a program which included hearing from former NASA astronaut and Shuttle Commander Mike Bloomfield, and Australia’s first Australian-flagged astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg.
“In aviation and aerospace we are always trying to attract the next generation of innovators, and one of the great experiences of this event was seeing thousands of students learning about how aviation and aerospace can offer exciting and rewarding careers,” Giddings said.
“We look forward to returning in 2027, to again deliver one of the world’s great air shows, for industry and the Australian public.”
Among the numbers that defined Avalon 2025 are:
- over 200,000 attendances over the six days of the event
- over 60,000 attendances during the trade days
- more than 7000 Careers Days students in attendance
- 350 aircraft displayed in the air or on the ground
- 902 participating exhibitor organisations from 28 nations
- 291 Delegations from 43 countries
- 65 conferences, symposiums and presentations.
Avalon 2025 was held from 25-30 March this year, much later than normal due to the rescheduled date for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne.