By Giulia Segreti, Paul Sandle and Tim Hepher
Airbus bagged multibillion-dollar plane orders from Saudi Arabia and Poland on the opening day of the Paris Airshow clouded by a separate diplomatic dispute over France’s decision to shut down some Israeli stands for displaying deadly weapons.
Delegates expect this year’s iteration of the world’s biggest aviation trade show to see less business than usual, partly due to last week’s fatal crash of an Air India Boeing 787 and also because Boeing racked up huge deals during U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent tour of the Middle East.
But Airbus looks set to close a series of sales on its home turf, and interest in the defence side of the show is high as Europe ramps up military spending and conflict between Israel and Iran escalates.
Tensions between long-standing allies France and Israel flared up as the show was getting underway, when Paris ordered the main Israeli company stands to be closed down when they refused to
You’ve reached your free article limit
Subscribe to enjoy unlimited access to trusted journalism. Cancel anytime.
Subscribe nowNeed help? molokom@insidepolitic.co.za
