COVID-19: Farnborough, Berlin Shows Cancelled

Germany's ILA Berlin 2020 and England's Farnborough International Airshow have been cancelled owing to the ongoing health concerns stemming from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

While the ILA event was slated to take place from 13-17 May, the Farnborough show was scheduled from 20-24 July.

"Events with an anticipated attendance of at least 1,000 persons are forbidden in the administrative district of Dahme-Spreewald due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus. The order is not time-limited and will remain in force until further notice," the organisers of ILA Berlin said in a statement earlier this week.

“After very careful consideration, the unprecedented impact of the global coronavirus pandemic has forced this decision in the interests of the health and safety of our exhibitors, visitors, contractors and staff,” the Farnborough International Board of Directors said in a statement on March 20. “This decision was reached taking into consideration several major factors surrounding the outbreak of COVID-19, all of which we have concluded, make it is impossible for us to create and host the Airshow this July.”

Several other defense events have either been rescheduled or cancelled owing to coronavirus fears.

Earlier this month, Association of the United States Army (AUSA) canceled the Global Force Symposium and Exposition that was to be held next week in Huntsville, Alabama. Qatar's Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) event that was to be held later this month has been canceled, while Defence Services Asia (DSA-2020) has been rescheduled to August.