THE CAYMAN ISLANDS AIRCRAFT REGISTRY FEATURED PROMINENTLY AT EUROPEAN BUSINESS AVIATION TRADESHOW

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands (CAACI) exhibited at the annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) tradeshow, which is held at the Palexpo Centre in Geneva, Switzerland on 20-22 May, 2025. The primary objective was to promote the Cayman Islands Aircraft Registry (CIAR) as the offshore registry of choice for discerning owners and operators.

EBACE has been held annually in Geneva, Switzerland, since 2001. There was great excitement and intrigue surrounding this year’s tradeshow, since the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) sold its interest in EBACE last year to the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA). Now with sole responsibility for the show, EBAA is working to ensure EBACE’s continued success and relevance to the industry. The industry continued its focus on innovation, sustainability, showcasing inclusion and excellence, exhibitors and attendees alike were keen to see the new technologies in this growing sector of the aviation market.

The CAACI is pleased to further the strategic partnership between the authority and Cayman Enterprise City (CEC) that provides key elements required for the jurisdictional establishment for operators engaged in commercial operations offshore. In addition to the team of delegates representing the CAACI and CIAR, Mr. Charlie Kirkconnell, Cayman Enterprise City CEO co-exhibited at the booth, and helped promote the registry, CEC, and the Cayman Islands.

CAACI and CEC are jointly marketing the Cayman Islands to the aviation industry, promoting its robust regulatory environment, neutral tax status, sound legal and finance systems and first-world life style, touting it as the perfect domicile from which to operate a business aviation company. Clients that qualify are aircraft owners and brokers, technology companies and start-ups engaged in aviation research and development, the head offices of aviation industry businesses, aircraft manufacturing and repair businesses, and businesses that provide management consultancy and other specialized services to the The CAACI would like to offer special thanks to our business partner the Maples Group for providing promotional items and relevant collateral material on aircraft registration decisions. A special thanks also goes to the sponsors who donated prizes for the booth raffle: Cayman Airways Ltd, Marriott Resort, Island Splash Watersports, Cimboco, Tea Time in Cayman, and Mar Candles. Visitors to the CAACI booth were all glad to receive a little piece of our dear verdant isles with mini rum cakes, Cayman coffee, and a host of giveaways and treats from our generous sponsors.

Our grand prize raffle winner took home a round trip ticket from Cayman Airways, a stay at the Marriott Resort, handmade thatch hat and basket from Eileen’s Hand Made Crafts, Gift Certificates from Island Splash Watersports and Cimboco, Tortuga Rum Cake, Tea Time in Cayman Tea Package, and ocean themed candle from Mars Candles.

Background info to augment:

The CAACI has full designation for safety oversight as a UK OT, and is one of only three OTs to enjoy such delegation. The CAACI is responsible for both safety and economic regulation of the Cayman aviation industry. In addition, the Cayman Islands is classified as Category 1 by the USA Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under their “International Aviation Safety Assessments” programme that evaluates a country’s civil aviation authority’s ability to effectively regulate its aviation industry. This rating enables commercial air transport operators registered in Cayman to conduct international air transport operations, i.e, Cayman Airways, Ltd. The requirement for such rating lies with the CAACI being assessed as having technically qualified and highly experienced staff to effectively oversee the aviation industry in accordance with established standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).