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India Air Boeing 787 crash overshadows industry talks

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Boeing ( BA ) scales back air show presence amid crash probe

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Aircraft orders still expected, led by Airbus

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Tariffs, Mideast conflict also cloud industry outlook

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Poland set to hand Airbus jet order amid warmer French

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By Joe Brock, Tim Hepher, Giulia Segreti and Paul Sandle

PARIS, June 16 (Reuters) - The Paris Airshow opens on

Monday with its usual fanfare of aircraft orders expected to be

tempered by concerns over India's deadliest air disaster and

escalating missile strikes between Israel and Iran that have

rattled the global aviation industry.

Every two years, Le Bourget Airport in the northeast of

Paris is transformed into a showcase for the aerospace and

defence industry, its sprawling tarmac lined with fighter jets,

commercial airliners and autonomous drones.

In the pristine white chalets along the flight line,

aerospace executives, government officials and military

delegations gather to strike deals and discuss the geopolitical

forces shaping the future of aviation.

Delegates say they expect this year's event from June 16-20

to be more sombre and several public activities to be scaled

back after last week's air disaster, when an Air India Boeing

787 crashed shortly after takeoff, killing over 240 people.

Investigators are gathering data on the engine, wing flaps

and landing gear, though it is too early to draw conclusions, a

source familiar with the matter told Reuters in India.

India's aviation regulator has ordered safety checks on the

airline's 787 fleet.

The industry has also been shaken by missile strikes between

Iran and Israel, which erupted on Friday - just a day after the

India crash - forcing carriers to cancel or divert thousands of

flights in the latest upheaval to travel in the region.

Aerospace and defence executives are also grappling with

uncertainty over U.S. President Donald Trump's shifting tariff

policies, which many say have been impacting aircraft, engines

and parts, disrupting global supply chains, driving up

production costs and straining international partnerships.

The show's opening coincides with the 10th anniversary of

Trump's first run for office in 2015 ahead of his first term.

But it is the trade policies of his second term that have caused

the industry to defend its previous tariff-free status, as a

pause in his "Liberation Day" tariffs nears a July 8 deadline.

AIRBUS POLAND WIN EXPECTED

Boeing's ( BA ) CEO Kelly Ortberg and Commercial Airplanes boss

Stephanie Pope cancelled their trip to Paris and the U.S.

planemaker is scaling back its schedule at the event as it

focuses on supporting the India crash probe.

The planemaker is eager to keep a low-key presence and avoid

any jarring publicity, though it was too late to remove Boeing ( BA )

advertising banners dominating the venue. Behind Boeing's ( BA ) chalet

at Le Bourget, a gleaming Riyadh Air 787 sits on the tarmac.

Boeing ( BA ) is emerging from back-to-back safety, industrial and

corporate crises triggered by fatal accidents involving the

smaller 737 MAX, which is a separate model to the newer 787.

Aircraft deals will still be announced at the show, where

European politics are also driving some of the discussions.

Sources told Reuters that Poland is expected to announce

Airbus as the winner of a landmark deal to sell around 47 A220

jets to state carrier LOT - part of a wider reset of relations

between Poland and France, where Airbus has its headquarters.

Brazil's Embraer ( ERJ ) had pushed hard for the deal,

the people said. None of the parties agreed to comment.

Airbus is also the front-runner against the same planemaker

for a potential order for dozens of A220 jets from AirAsia, with

Airbus reviving a proposal for a tighter 160-seat cabin layout

while separately showing airlines a stretched version featuring

existing Pratt & Whitney engines, sources said.

Airbus was also expected to kick off the event with two

Saudi orders from AviLease and Riyadh Air.

Boeing ( BA ) has shelved most announcements including a fleet

shake-up by long-time customer Royal Air Maroc, but had already

been heading for a quieter week than Airbus after pre-empting

the show with big orders during Trump's recent Gulf visit.

The air show is also an opportunity for established and

emerging defence and space companies to showcase cutting-edge

technologies such as AI and autonomy.