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The biennial Dubai Airshow, held only last November, clearly reflected what the downturn had done to the aviation industry, as sales of only a bit more than $14 billion was achieved compared with $155.5 billion in 2007.
Within months of that, how could another airshow justify its presence in the region - this time in Bahrain, which held the inaugural Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) 2010 last week?
For Bahrain, which pioneered aviation in the Gulf, from the first Concorde flight in 1976 to the foundation of the region's first international air carrier, Gulf Air, the show was intended to bolster its credentials as a regional aviation centre.
Organisers say there was a lot more that the Bahrain show offered compared with other shows.
Devised as a sister event to the influential Farnborough Air Show, BIAS unveiled a totally new concept to the global aerospace community.
What Bahrain launched was a unique Business-to-Business event catering to the civil, defence and business aviation markets. The show afforded visitors an exclusive opportunity to focus on their clients and suppliers and to meet with visiting delegations.
The show's unusual format, based around traditions of Arabian hospitality and boosted by the island kingdom's business-friendly and buoyant economy, has allowed it to establish its niche in the aerospace calendar.
Unlike Dubai and established air shows from Paris and Farnborough to Singapore and Berlin, BIAS was an invite-only affair, with guests spending their time in a sectioned-off area comprising 40 exhibitor chalets.
There were no exhibition halls or static line-ups, although there was an air display every afternoon, which members of the public was be able to view.
With the public event taking place simultaneously but separately from an exclusive corporate trade event, BIAS 2010 is expected to inject up to $13 million (BD4.9 million) into Bahrain's economy.
Bahrain is poised to reap the dividends from hosting the event which "will benefit civil and military sectors, particularly tourism, media and economy", says His Majesty King Hamad.
Stressing the importance of the show in spearheading the national economy and optimising development, he says: "Strategically situated, Bahrain throughout its history has been a meeting point for civilisations and cultures and a trade hub."
"The economic benefits from the show are not just for Bahrain, but for the whole region" says Talal Al Zain, the head of the Bahraini holding company Mumtalakat.
At the show, Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, was launched.
The concept of creating the first aviation academy in Bahrain comes as part of King Hamad's vision for the future of aviation training in the kingdom and it will play a vital role in increasing the aviation industry's presence in the region.
GAA is expected to play a key role in the development of Bahrain's air transport infrastructure, helping to make the kingdom a recognised hub for aviation services.
Also, Bahrain's Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) is set to introduce a new air traffic safety system at Bahrain International Airport (BIA).
It has signed a contract with leading air transport communication and information technology solutions specialists SITA during the show.
The deal will see SITA deliver air and ground data link systems to the airport, aimed at enhancing air traffic safety in the airspace under its control.
ADS, a leading UK-based aerospace, defence and security trade organisation, said it has plans to set up a regional office in Bahrain in order to support the growing market in the Middle East.
"The Middle East is a vibrant and growing market for the world-leading products that our members deliver for their customers," ADS chairman Ian Godden says.
The UK aerospace, defence and security industries, as number one in Europe and second only to the US globally, see the Middle East as a key source of future partnerships and mutually-beneficial business arrangements," he says.
Meanwhile, Bahrain Airport Company has signed up Hill International, a leader in managing construction risk, as the project management consultant for its massive expansion project at Bahrain International Airport.
Hill International's role will revolve around supervising the overall expansion of the new development. The plan includes building extra capacity and the utilisation of state-of-the-art information and communication technology.
