Nestled in the British countryside an hour's drive west of London
Nestled in the British countryside an hour's drive west of London, the town of Farnborough could be described as the Wimbledon of aviation. Like the home of the posh tennis tournament, this leafy backwater doesn't see much happen in normal times. Then, every other July, the piercing sound of jet engines awakens the town as tens of thousands of executives, exhibitors and kerosene-loving gawkers descend on the Farnborough International Airshow, the aviation industry's biggest showcase for all things wings.
It's where some of the biggest aircraft purchases are sealed, fighter jets perform acrobatic stunts and archrivals Boeing Co. and Airbus SE face off with their latest offerings. But not this year. Boeing has already said it isn't bringing any planes over from the US, and the torrent of orders that has been the hallmark of shows past risks receding to a trickle.
Boeing has been severely hamstrung, and arguably humbled, since a near-catastrophic accident—remember when that panel blew out of the side of a plane?—threw it into crisis in January. The company has been turned inside out, management and all, as it tries to fix its manufacturing.
Airbus, meanwhile, is encountering its own (less dramatic) turbulence. The European planemaker simply can't get its hands on the millions of parts it needs to build its aircraft. Many of its bestselling jets are stuck on the ground with engines that need fixing.
It's not like there are no buyers. Ordering 100 jets or more in one fell swoop is the norm these days as a collective sense of FOMO grips the global industry. But neither of the dominant players in civil aviation can provide planes in the quantities airlines are demanding. Looking to buy one of those popular Airbus A320s? Call us in 2030. If you're lucky, we might have something.
Some airlines are going down the experimental route, snapping up diminutive electrically powered aircraft bristling with battery-powered overhead propellers, like drones on steroids. Farnborough will be full of them, their manufacturers trying to convince prospective buyers that the future—much like in the car industry—is electric.
But the biggest, fuel-guzzlingest jets will draw the loudest cheers from spectators and get the most attention at the event. Although Boeing isn't bringing over any aircraft of its own, it can count on corporate friends for some moral support. Qatar Airways will swoop in with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, as well as a Gulfstream G700 for those who prefer to travel in private jet mode.
And the carrier plans to reveal its latest business-class offering. While details are scarce, Qatar is sure to double down on opulence: Think cocooned suites padded out with pillows as soft as clouds, more movies than you'd need for multiple round-the-world trips, and Champagne flutes that never run dry. Who knows, there might even be strawberries and cream. It is, after all, the Wimbledon of aviation.
It's where some of the biggest aircraft purchases are sealed, fighter jets perform acrobatic stunts and archrivals Boeing Co. and Airbus SE face off with their latest offerings. But not this year. Boeing has already said it isn't bringing any planes over from the US, and the torrent of orders that has been the hallmark of shows past risks receding to a trickle.
Boeing has been severely hamstrung, and arguably humbled, since a near-catastrophic accident—remember when that panel blew out of the side of a plane?—threw it into crisis in January. The company has been turned inside out, management and all, as it tries to fix its manufacturing.
Airbus, meanwhile, is encountering its own (less dramatic) turbulence. The European planemaker simply can't get its hands on the millions of parts it needs to build its aircraft. Many of its bestselling jets are stuck on the ground with engines that need fixing.
It's not like there are no buyers. Ordering 100 jets or more in one fell swoop is the norm these days as a collective sense of FOMO grips the global industry. But neither of the dominant players in civil aviation can provide planes in the quantities airlines are demanding. Looking to buy one of those popular Airbus A320s? Call us in 2030. If you're lucky, we might have something.
Some airlines are going down the experimental route, snapping up diminutive electrically powered aircraft bristling with battery-powered overhead propellers, like drones on steroids. Farnborough will be full of them, their manufacturers trying to convince prospective buyers that the future—much like in the car industry—is electric.
A Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operated by Qatar Airways, at the air show on Monday. Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg
But the biggest, fuel-guzzlingest jets will draw the loudest cheers from spectators and get the most attention at the event. Although Boeing isn't bringing over any aircraft of its own, it can count on corporate friends for some moral support. Qatar Airways will swoop in with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, as well as a Gulfstream G700 for those who prefer to travel in private jet mode.
And the carrier plans to reveal its latest business-class offering. While details are scarce, Qatar is sure to double down on opulence: Think cocooned suites padded out with pillows as soft as clouds, more movies than you'd need for multiple round-the-world trips, and Champagne flutes that never run dry. Who knows, there might even be strawberries and cream. It is, after all, the Wimbledon of aviation.
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