Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Farnborough Airshow 2022: An India-Centric Display

By Bikram Vohra

Airshow conferences are usually dreary and aviation journalists, by and large, ask tame, even timid questions. This is largely because they are close buds with the top corporate echelons, and the whole thing is a bit of a charade since the reworked press release is about par for the course. Generally, pretty much bland and vanilla; go on then, rewrite a few words and let us get to the chalet for lunch. There are more scoops in ice cream than there are in the reportage of an airshow.

This predictable course changes on two occasions, and these are the Press conferences held by Boeing and Airbus. At last, some juicy quotes, less stress on the superlatives and more on slanging each other off. It is a heady mix of fact, scorn and the casting of doubt, and there is standing room only. These two events usually occur on the same day and provide much hilarity and excitement, and if one or both descend into the realm of rudeness or mockery, that is the high spot of the five-day airfest.

However, these past four years have made a mess of the old dynamics, and even as the industry faces issues that were never on the cards, there is paradoxically this massive surge in traffic and demand. That makes this airshow an unusual milestone because it becomes as much a pilgrimage and a reality check.

I would not be wrong to suggest that the traction will come from India, with both the giants vying for what could be the most significant order if Air India makes a call on its as high as 300 narrow bodies aimed at reworking its fleet and effectively using its 2,738 landing slots around the world across 42 foreign destinations apart from 4,400 slots at airports in India. The latter is perfect for supporting the Regional Connectivity initiative as the country opens the interior with a network of airports designed to invite the 92% of the 1.3 billion population that has not yet flown and is dramatic passenger potential.

If this largest order falls between the two big boys and gives Embraer a share, this trinity will prosper over the next decade. The situation echoed in 2005 when Indigo sent shock waves with a 200 aircraft demand adding a lease of life to the A320 programme. India could be waving a chequebook worth over $50 billion between now and 2032.

If this single carrier demand does not ignite excitement, there is also the revived Jet Airways still confidential purchase plan and probably the first choice to ferret for a hint over these five days. Embraer is in the running, and the Brazilian manufacturer had flown in the E195-E2 to the Hyderabad airshow in March, where it caught the eye. Airbus had done much the same with the A350 putting it through its paces in Indian airspace. The fun and games do not stop here. In November, Akasa signed a deal for 72 737 Max narrow bodies and has already received the first delivery in June. It may well want more.

Of interest to Air India will be the Boeing offers at the show with an accent on the newbies in the stable, namely the 737 MAX 10 and the 777-9. These two aircraft will get a fair amount of attention and are the biggest guns in the Boeing arsenal as it comes out of the gates with a lot more intent, hoping to end its ”on the backfoot” apologist stance that began over the Max programme. Similarly, Airbus is going to put on display the A350 as the best choice for tomorrow, with this aircraft being the first to be made of carbon fibre reinforced polymer.

Airbus will also like to get past the row with Qatar Airways and the accusations of corrosion in that carrier’s A350 fleet, now a long-drawn legal issue. The Toulouse-based company seems to be very much in the lead with the A350 option for Air India’s long-distance routes as the plus 400-seater operates at 25% less cost and the same drop in carbon emissions, making it a desirable choice.

Currently, Indian carriers have an order of over 1100 aircraft in wide and narrow categories. It will also be seeking some deals on leasing aircraft, and this positive fallout will also affect the helicopter sector, where India is looking for a network that overflies rugged terrain.

Suffice it to say that Indian delegations will be very visible this morning onwards, as the media parks itself on the hill, so let the show begin.






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