The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has made “significant” reductions to its workforce as it contends with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the cancellation of its events through July 1, the business aviation trade group announced May 5. 

An NBAA spokesperson declined to elaborate on the number of layoffs. It will, however, continue to retain a “sharp focus” on advocacy, strategic communications, operational support and other priorities. 

NBAA is also moving forward with NBAA-BACE, scheduled for Oct. 6-8 in Orlando, Florida, and other events. NBAA-BACE is receiving an “enthusiastic response from exhibitors,” said Dan Hubbard, NBAA spokesperson. 

In May alone, NBAA was to host or co-host five events, including Europe’s largest business aviation show, the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva. The event was expected to attract 13,000 attendees and more than 400 exhibitors. It also canceled the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE) and other conferences, seminars, forums and training classes. 

NBAA has event insurance for its events, Hubbard said. “But on the ones that have been canceled through July 1, we are still awaiting the financial outcomes of the claims.”

The coronavirus pandemic has been challenging organizations of every kind, said Ed Bolen, NBAA president and CEO.

“NBAA is certainly not immune to those challenges,” 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. This difficult but necessary step will ensure that we are strategically positioned to meet a rapidly changing series of demands, while also focusing on the initiatives essential to our members. The decisions we’re making have been among our most difficult ever, but I firmly believe they are appropriate to ensure NBAA, and business aviation, will thrive as we look to the future.”