The Paris Airshow is off to a start on Monday with its customary air of aircraft orders likely to be muted by worries over India’s deadliest air crash and increasing missile attacks between Israel and Iran that have shaken the world’s aviation community.
Le Bourget Transformed Into Global Aviation Hub
Every other year, Le Bourget Airport in the Parisian north-east is converted into a stage for the defence and aerospace industry, its vast tarmac bordered with fighter planes, commercial aircraft and autonomous drones.
Inside the gleaming white chalets along the flight line, aerospace leaders, government representatives and military delegations meet to close deals and debate the geopolitical trends that are defining the future of flying.
Somber Mood After Air India Crash
Delegates indicate that they anticipate this year’s conference from June 16-20 to be darker and many of the public activities to be reduced after last week’s air tragedy, in which an Air India Boeing 787 crashed just minutes after taking off, killing more than 240 individuals.
Experts are collecting information on the engine, wing flaps and landing gears, but it is premature to make conclusions, a source privy to the information informed Reuters in India. India’s civil aviation regulator has directed safety inspections of the carrier’s 787 fleet.
Conflict in Middle East Adds to Uncertainty
The sector has also been rocked by Iranian-Israeli missile exchanges that began on Friday – a day after the crash in India – compelling carriers to axe or divert thousands of flights in the latest disruption to travel in the region.
Aerospace and defense leaders are also facing uncertainty regarding the changing tariff policies of U.S. President Donald Trump, which are said to have been affecting planes, engines and components, upsetting worldwide supply chains, increasing costs of production and putting international partnerships under strain.
The series premiere coincides with the 10th anniversary of Trump’s initial bid for office in 2015 preceding his first term. But it is his second-term trade policies that have led the industry to rally behind its prior tariff-free status, as a slowdown in his “Liberation Day” tariffs approaches a July 8 deadline.
Boeing Adopts Low Profile Amid Ongoing Investigation
Boeing chief Kelly Ortberg and Commercial Airplanes head Stephanie Pope cancelled their visit to Paris and the American planemaker is toning down its activity at the show as it prioritizes cooperating with the India crash investigation.
The planemaker is keen to maintain a low-profile and eschew any jarring publicity, although it came too late to have Boeing advertising banners dominating the hall. Behind Boeing’s chalet at Le Bourget, a shiny Riyadh Air 787 awaits on the apron.
Boeing is coming out of back-to-back safety, industrial and corporate crises spurred by deadly crashes of the smaller 737 MAX, a distinct model to the newer 787.
Deals Continue Despite Cautious Atmosphere
Airplane deals will nonetheless be announced at the event, where European politics are also behind some of the negotiations.
Reuters was told by sources that Poland will announce Airbus the winner of a historic deal to sell some 47 A220 jets to state-owned carrier LOT – part of a broader reset of Polish-French relations, where Airbus is headquartered.
Brazil’s Embraer (EMBR3.SA), opens new tab had spearheaded the negotiations for the deal, the sources said. Neither side was willing to comment.
Airbus Takes Lead with Major Orders
Airbus is also leading against the same plane manufacturer on a possible order for dozens of A220 aircraft from AirAsia, with Airbus resuspending an offer for a denser 160-seat cabin configuration alongside presenting airlines separately with a stretched offering using current Pratt & Whitney (RTX.N), opens new tab engines, people said.
Boeing has postponed all but most announcements such as a fleet restructuring by loyal customer Royal Air Maroc, but had already been on its way to a quieter week than Airbus after pre-empting the show with large orders with Trump’s recent Gulf tour.
The air show is also a chance for large and new defence and space firms to present leading edge technologies like AI and autonomy.
