A cloud hangs over the Paris air show after Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed minutes after it took off from Ahmedabad for London. The fatal accident killed more than 240 people, the first to kill anyone since the 787 entered service in 2011.
In response, Boeing took swift action: CEO Kelly Ortberg and Commercial Airplanes head Stephanie Pope scrapped their Paris trip to prioritize the inquiry and stand in support of their crews. Likewise, GE Aerospace canceled its investor day, highlighting a shared pull-back from regularity in respect and accountability.
India’s aviation regulator has issued directives for comprehensive inspections of all Boeing 787s in Indian fleets, including checks on engines, flaps, and flight systems. As of June 14, eight of the 34 787s have undergone scrutiny. Meanwhile, the investigation is being conducted collaboratively by Indian authorities, Boeing, GE, and U.S. transport agencies.
The crash has had a two-fold impact: it has dampened the high spirits anticipated in Paris and directed the industry’s focus towards air safety, fleet dependability, and investigative openness, instead of the usual fascination with glamorous jet sales.
While the Air India crash brought the show up to date, missile barrages between Israel and Iran this month have intensified worldwide concerns. These tensions necessitated several flight detours and cancellations, a harsh reminder of the vulnerability of the aviation industry to geopolitical tensions.
As a result, major carriers are alert, diverting flights and replotting routes, while industry leaders debate the effects of war dynamics on flight routes, insurance risk, and regional stability.
Adding to these are issues is a resurgent tide of U.S. tariffs on planes, engines, and components during the second Trump administration. The industry voices strong in opposition, such as Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury, caution that these tariffs can disrupt global supply chains, drive up costs, and test alliances.
These policies, to be in force from April with possible increases in July, are being watched closely. Boeing, yet recovering from the setbacks of the earlier 737 MAX issues and the recent crash, has shown apprehension about cost absorption .
Even with the reflective tone, business deals are still in the pipeline—albeit with a change of focus to quality and supply docking rather than volume. Airbus will be announcing significant deals to come, potentially including an order from Poland for 47 A220 aircraft and new deals with AirAsia, AviLease, and Riyadh Air.
Conversely, Boeing’s visibility is subdued, having already pre-announced big Gulf deals. It has chosen not to announce any major new fleet deals at the show—with several deals potentially deferred out of respect after the crash .
Experts see today’s environment as a production capacity, supply chain effectiveness, and manufacturing dependability inflection point. Boeing has been approved by the FAA to step up 787 production rates at its facility, along with a ramp-up in 737 MAX production—aiming for 38 aircraft per month and potentially more.
At the same time, Airbus is still struggling with engine backlogs on the A320 family, as fuel-efficient and net-zero emissions objectives remain on strategic lists, albeit relegated to the backburner by pressing safety and trade issues.
Parliamenting world instability, the Paris Airshow will also host defense technologies—from fighter aircraft and helicopters to artificial-intelligence-guided drones. Many European countries, because of the Ukraine war and wider geopolitical tensions, are increasing military spending, making defense exhibits more important.
Overall, the 2025 Paris Airshow is playing out as a thoughtful and strategically focused event. It’s no longer a platform for purely celebratory transactions—it’s now a platform centered on aviation security, geopolitical risk analysis, tariff policy, production toughness, and defense posture.
The tragedy of the Air India crash has reset the priorities among manufacturers, regulators, and insurers. With tensions worldwide still building up, industries are set to address not only the aerodynamic hurdles but also the material, operational, and political winds against aerospace in mid-2025. Keep Reading Questiqa.com for more updates.
About The Author
