Paris Air Show Opens Amid Dreamliner Crash, Global Conflicts

The 2025 Paris Air Show, one of the aviation industry's largest biennial gatherings, opened amid significant challenges including geopolitical tensions, trade tariffs, and a recent fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg canceled his attendance to focus on the investigation of the Air India crash that killed at least 265 people, marking the first fatal accident involving a Boeing Dreamliner. The event, held at Le Bourget Airport with over 2,400 exhibitors from 48 countries, traditionally highlights major aircraft orders and competition between Boeing and Airbus, but this year's atmosphere is overshadowed by broader issues. These include the ongoing war in Ukraine, fears of conflict escalation in the Middle East disrupting flights, and economic uncertainties exacerbated by President Donald Trump's recent tariff impositions on imports, affecting the global aerospace supply chain. Despite Boeing's recent progress in production and recovery under new leadership, both it and Airbus face delivery delays due to supply chain disruptions. Industry leaders emphasize that the complex geopolitical and economic environment is dampening what is usually a showcase for mega-deals and technological pageantry at the air show.