The Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) opened on Monday, July 20, and will run until Friday, July 24. FIA is one of the world’s leading showcase opportunities for global aerospace and defence companies. This year, the Hampshire-based show has a record 1,600 exhibitors, and 288 aircraft orders have already been placed, according to Reuters.
Key deals
The site of FIA is Farnborough Airport (FAB), recognised as the birthplace of British aviation because the first powered flight took off here in 1908. FIA began as a showcase for British aerospace technology in 1948, and the last event in 2014 attracted over 100,000 visitors from 114 countries. At this last event, Delta Air Lines ordered 100 Boeing 737 Max 10 aircraft.
Below is a summary of the key commercial deals made so far this year.
|
Purchaser |
Order |
| SMBC Aviation Capital | 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft
(60 737-10, 40 737-8 jets) 100 Airbus A320neo (65 A321neo, 35 A320neo aircraft) |
| Riyadh Air | From 2023 order – converted 20 of 28 Boeing 787 Dreamliners to 787-10 variant
Further six A350-1000 (31 total have been ordered) |
| Philippine Airlines | 20 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners (15 firm orders, 5 options)
Nine Airbus A350 ordered, purchase rights for further five |
| Aercap | 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners |
| Uganda Airlines | Four Boeing 737 Max, four Boeing 737 jets |
| MSC Air Cargo | Five Boeing 777-8 freighters |
| Luxair | Two Boeing 737-10 aircraft |
| Shohin Airlines | Four Airbus A320-neo aircraft |
| Fuji Dream Airlines | Two Embraer E175 regional jets |
| Abra | 20 Embraer E2 aircraft |
| Binter | Five Embraer E2 aircraft |
| British Airways | Selected Pratt & Whitney GTF engines for its 63 incoming A320neo jets |
| BOC Aviation | 300 CFM International engines for existing fleet |
| IndiGo | 1,000 CFM International LEAP-1A engines |
New technology, new PM
In addition to commercial deals, the international event will provide space for debate on ongoing global conflicts and geopolitical unrest. Manufacturers Boeing and Airbus will also discuss future plans and their ongoing decisions regarding the eventual replacement of popular Boeing 737 and Airbus A320neo aircraft.
Defence companies such as Lockheed Martin unveiled new lower-cost Patriot interceptors to counter drones and missiles. Other new military technology on display includes unmanned fighter jets, hypersonic missiles, spy satellites and AI-enabled weapons systems.
GE Aerospace also revealed it is working in partnership with NASA and BETA Technologies on the world’s first high-altitude flight using hybrid-electric propulsion assistance.
While the UK’s Prime Minister (PM) is usually in attendance at the British event, FIA’s launch day on Monday also coincided with the first day in office for the UK’s new PM, Andy Burnham. It is hoped he may make an appearance later this week.
Have you already attended, or are you planning to attend, the 2026 Farnborough Airshow? Let us know in the comments below.
