Paris Airshow cancelled in further blow to aerospace sector

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Next year's Paris Airshow has been cancelled in a further blow to an aerospace sector still struggling to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The event's organisers said that Europe's largest industrial showcase - which attracts over 300,000 people - would not go ahead in 2021 because of the "unprecedented impact" the pandemic has had on aerospace.

Read more: European aviation's united call for green recovery from COVID-19

Aviation experts have pointed out that the early cancellation mirrors the high advance costs of the event which is estimated to create $1 billion (€825 million) in total spending by attendees and exhibitors, including $400 million (€330 million) on temporary hires, buildings and security.

The Airshow's cancellation has deprived the aerospace industry of a much-needed deadline to make deals and turn attention onto new products and developments.

“The Paris Airshow could and should have been a catalyst for recovery. The organisers have clearly listened to the big exhibitors and decided it was not worth the risk,” veteran aviation analyst Howard Wheeldon told FT.

“The bigger worry is that this is saying that confidence won’t be returning soon, not only in aviation but also in the wider post-COVID world,” he added.

The biennial event began in 1908 and has only previously been cancelled during the two world wars. 

The most recent event, held at Le Bourget just outside Paris, generated contracts worth a total of $140 billion (€115.5 billion).

The seven-day spectacular had, in recent years, become dominated by the two-way battle for jetliner orders between Airbus and Boeing, with cost-consciousness taking precedence over PR hype amongst those executives in attendance.

Read more: Airbus to boost production of popular passenger jet

However, next year's show was being modelled as a barometer for demand in difficult times, especially in light of Boeing's attempt to relaunch its 737 Max, which was approved last month after being grounded for 20 months due to faulty control software.

At the last event in 2019, Boeing revealed a tentative 200-plane rescue order for the beleaguered 737 Max. What was something of a coup at the time is now looking increasingly uncertain as the pandemic tears through growth plans.

Airbus, which was born out of a Franco-German co-operation deal signed at the show in 1969, said cancelling was “difficult ... but responsible”.

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