Farnborough Airshow: Boeing in retreat at the highest level of aviation

When the Farnborough Airshow opens outside London on Monday, Boeing’s commercial jetliners will be noticeably absent from static and flying displays.

After months of rumors of a low-key show for the American aerospace giant, Boeing has confirmed that it will not bring any test aircraft to the biennial show. The move is part of the company’s new focus on safety and meeting customer demands.

“We are focused on executing our comprehensive safety and quality plan and delivering on our commitments to our customers,” said Dr. Brendan Nelson AO, president of Boeing Global, in a statement.

This year, Boeing is adjusting its presence at Farnborough to prioritize “factory safety and quality,” as announced earlier this week. The company will only hold a few briefings and will not participate in the flight demonstration.

“We have reduced our commercial aircraft displays and flight demonstrations at the show and will focus on new technologies, sustainability, safety and service solutions,” he added.

That’s in stark contrast to 2022, when Boeing’s attendance at the show was robust. The company showcased several commercial airplanes, including the 737 MAX 10 and 777X, both of which were on display daily. Boeing also reported a total of 176 firm orders for commercial passenger jets, double the 85 orders for rival Airbus, including a notable order for 100 737 MAX 10 planes from Delta Air Lines.

This week, neither the 737 MAX nor the 777X — the current and future workhorses of Boeing’s fleet — will be present, not even on static display.

For Boeing, Farnborough couldn’t have come at a worse time, as the company continues to grapple with the fallout from the 737 MAX disasters that killed a total of 346 people and other safety issues, including the mid-air explosion that left a hole in the side of Alaska Flight 1282 as it took off from Portland in January.

Directly linked to the 2018 and 2019 deaths from the two 737 MAX crashes, Boeing just agreed on July 7 to plead guilty to one count of defrauding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials after accepting what one of the victims’ attorneys called a “sweetheart deal” with the federal government.

Additionally, with just five months until David Calhoun’s scheduled retirement at the end of the year, it remains unclear who will lead the company once he’s gone.

Boeing received a major boost just before the show when the FAA granted a Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) for the 777X. The authorization allows the 777-9 to begin the test flights needed to earn passenger service approval, which is crucial to Boeing’s business.

Experts contacted by Newsweek Opinions differ on Boeing’s limited participation in Farnborough, with some calling it a “missed opportunity” while others say it “makes sense given the current scenario.”

Addison Schonland, an aviation industry expert and co-founder of AirInsight, questions the decision not to introduce new aircraft.

“It’s not clear why Boeing decided not to show any models at the show, but if you don’t show what you have, even if it’s under development, it doesn’t add value to your brand or demonstrate it to the market,” Schonland said.

Larry Kopp, a public relations expert and founder of TASC Group, said Boeing’s decision was the right one, emphasizing to travelers that the company is committed to focusing on safety and security.

“Launching new products is not the right decision; it’s a message of denial. Sure, there will be detractors, but the message now has to be about safety, reflection, internal analysis, acknowledging mistakes, acknowledging the lack of culture and rebuilding the company,” Kopp said. Newsweek.

For decades, the Farnborough Airshow has been one of the world’s premier events for aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus, which announce billions of dollars in orders there. This year, however, the show risks being overshadowed by growing airline frustration over plane shortages and delays from the two rivals that account for nearly the entire commercial aviation market. Like Boeing, Airbus is going through a difficult time, though the European company’s troubles are largely due to persistent supply chain issues.

Airline executives are increasingly frustrated by long waits for new products. Boeing is expected to announce a new 777X order for more than 20 planes from Korean Air, while carriers such as Japan Airlines are reportedly close to finalizing their recent tentative orders. Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines have also indicated they are looking for new planes.

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