2024 ICAS Convention Exceeds Expectations

As the Thursday night survivor party concluded and the delegates reluctantly moved on to the ICAS “Circle Bar” and other establishments, the results of the 2024 ICAS Convention at Paris Las Vegas couldn’t have been clearer. The industry is wholly, and truly, back in full force. This year’s convention set an encouraging tone of growth and progress, with an attendee count that hasn’t been seen in two decades. A palpable energy and confidence were felt throughout the general session ballroom, exhibit hall, education rooms, and the hallways and public spaces at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel as ICAS members conducted business, reconnected and continued their preparation for the 2025 season.    

While this year’s convention didn’t set a record for registrations, it got very close with a total of 1,593…second only to the 1,605 mark in 2002.  The Paris Las Vegas Hotel convention center welcomed 818 event organizers from 191 distinct air shows across the U.S., Canada, and around the world. The exhibit hall, sold out since October, featured 225 exhibitors who did business over three days with over nine hours of time to interact on the floor with business prospects.

“We’ve not seen a tone and a pace of business like this in many years,” said ICAS President John Cudahy. “And, as an indication of the optimism and enthusiasm for the 2025 and 2026 air show seasons, it was both promising and encouraging.”