Jetmaking industrial problems overshadow orders at damp air show

The world's largest air show fizzled out on Thursday with a solid new Saudi jetliner order unable to dispel the gloom over recent problems in producing planes fast enough to meet demand. Britain's Farnborough Airshow opened earlier this week amid alarm signals from airlines over falling yields or average fares. But delegates said they remained above historic levels and although quiet, the show confirmed demand for wide-body jets. Airbus and Boeing posted about 40 firm orders - a fraction of recent years - and were roughly level depending on whether Qatar Airways' decision to come forward as the previously unnamed buyer for an existing Boeing order was counted. Including preliminary new orders, Airbus pulled ahead after announcing a deal on Thursday for 90 planes including 15 A330neos from Saudi carrier Flynas. Reuters reported talks with Flynas on the model ahead of the show. There was none of the triumphalism seen at past events with both major planemakers recognising they had other pressing issues, including the inability of factories to keep up with recent demand because of disruption left over from the pandemic. "Almost everyone plays to the rhythm. But all it takes is one piece of the puzzle that's missing and the puzzle is not complete," Airbus planemaking CEO Christian Scherer told Reuters. "We have 4,000 suppliers that flow into one plane." With the VIP chalets pulling down the shutters on a rainy and subdued air show, with only a drizzle of new aircraft orders, the exhibition halls where the global supply chain sets up shop for the week were still humming with activity. Inside the temporary bazaar, suggestions from manufacturers that the whole supply chain bears responsibility for the industry's manufacturing woes were far from popular.<br/>