Chinese tourists barred from Airbus’ German air force plane at Singapore Airshow due to ‘military restrictions’

Some Chinese visitors complained on Weibo that they were turned away from an Airbus A400M transport aircraft belonging to the German air force
After learning of the alleged incident, Airbus issued an apology and improved the visiting process to ensure ‘the aircraft was open to all visitors’, it said

Singapore

CNA

Published: 4:32pm, 27 Feb 2024

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Airbus has apologised after some Chinese visitors claimed they were stopped from viewing a German military plane during the Singapore Airshow over the weekend, when the event was open to the public.

In posts that have since gone viral on Chinese social media, some visitors complained on Weibo that they were turned away from an Airbus A400M transport aircraft belonging to the German air force.

They also claimed that Russian visitors were also denied access.

Some Chinese visitors say they were denied access to the German Air Force Luftwaffe’s Airbus A400M at the Singapore Airshow. Photo: Reuters

According to Airbus, the A400M is its “most advanced, proven and certified airlifter available”. The aircraft has both tactical airlift – transport of personnel and goods into theatres of operation – and strategic airlift – transport of assets like outsize and heavy vehicles or equipment – capabilities.

The European Commission said last month it had put forward several proposals to bolster the European Union’s economic security, including understanding how “advanced technologies can be used to enhance military capacities of actors who may use these against the EU”.

Singapore Airshow’s record numbers, China’s C919, raise hopes of post Covid boom

One Weibo user wrote on Saturday that he was turned away after queuing up to view the aircraft, with staff checking the nationalities of visitors who looked Chinese.

Chinese visitors were allegedly singled out, with staff apparently saying “Chinese go out” to those in the queue, he added.

In a video making its rounds on Weibo, a person wearing an Airbus lanyard can be heard asking a Chinese blogger for his nationality as he is visiting a “German aircraft”.

After the blogger said he was from China, the staff said that “it is not possible” for him to enter the plane due to “military restrictions”.

After learning about this situation, we immediately communicated and coordinated with relevant parties, promptly improved the visit process, and ensured that the aircraft was open to all visitors

Airbus statement

Airbus said on its official Weibo account on Sunday that it rectified the visit process once the matter was brought to its attention.

“We noticed that during the public opening day of the Singapore Airshow, some visitors had questions about the visit of an A400M military transport aircraft,” the European aircraft manufacturer said.

“After learning about this situation, we immediately communicated and coordinated with relevant parties, promptly improved the visit process, and ensured that the aircraft was open to all visitors. We deeply regret the inconvenience caused by previous on-site work, and thank everyone for your continued attention and feedback.”

Airbus also stressed that it is “committed to becoming a trustworthy, long-term partner of the Chinese aviation industry”.

Chinese visitors were able to visit the A400M aircraft “freely” from Saturday afternoon, reported Chinese daily The Global Times.

After learning of the alleged incident, Airbus issued an apology and improved the visiting process to ensure ‘the aircraft was open to all visitors’, it said in a statement. Photo: AFP

The Singapore Airshow drew more than 30,000 visitors on Saturday, with China’s first airliner C919 making its global debut at the event. China’s Tibet Airlines finalised an order for 40 C919 jets and 10 ARJ21 regional jets last Tuesday.

CNA has contacted the airshow’s organisers for more information on certain visitors allegedly being prevented from viewing the A400M aircraft.

This story was first published on CNA