Jetmakers see brisk start to air show as UK tries to soothe Brexit worries

Planemakers racked up more than $20b of deals on the opening day of the Farnborough Airshow Monday, suggesting demand for new passenger jets remains in rude health despite worries over trade tensions and Brexit. The deal-making came as host Britain tried to convince a skeptical aerospace industry about its plans to leave the EU, saying supply chains would continue to run smoothly and pledging money for a new fighter jet program. Airbus and Boeing have been enjoying an almost decade-long boom thanks to rising emerging markets growth and a need among Western airlines to upgrade their fleets, and order books are bulging. Higher oil prices, rising interest rates, global trade tensions and uncertainty over Brexit have all raised concerns that demand may slow. But business was brisk on the first day of the July 16-22 air show, though analysts will be watching closely to see how many of the deals are new, and how many involve adjusting earlier business or switching models - something not always easy to spot at first. Story has more details.<br/>