The wave of layoffs that have begun to spread throughout the industry has reached NBAA, which yesterday announced “a significant reduction” in its workforce. While not detailing the extent of the layoffs, NBAA cited the challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic in the move and said it will enable it to keep “a sharp focus on advocacy, strategic communications, operational support, the production of NBAA-BACE and other events, and other priorities for the association and industry.”

With travel restrictions and ongoing health and safety concerns surrounding Covid-19, NBAA has been forced to cancel numerous of its events that are an important part of the association's funding, including such hallmark gatherings such as the EBACE and ABACE co-hosted shows that gather thousands of attendees and hundreds of exhibitors from around the world. 

“As we know, the Covid-19 pandemic is challenging organizations of every kind, and NBAA is certainly not immune to those challenges,” NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said. “We are working to address the challenge by looking at all aspects of our business, including significant reductions to our workforce, consistent with what we are seeing in the aviation community and beyond.”

Bolen added the decisions “have been among our most difficult ever” but are necessary to ensure the association continues to meet the evolving demands confronting the industry and association. “I firmly believe they are appropriate to ensure NBAA, and business aviation, will thrive as we look to the future,” he said.