Farnborough International Airshow 2024 Breaks Records with Major Deals and High Attendance

The Farnborough International Airshow 2024, held from 22 to 26 July, was the busiest edition of the show in decades, according to the organiser. Visitor numbers rose by 33% on 2022 to more than 100,000, delegation attendance was up 57%, and more than $105 billion of commercial aircraft and engine orders were announced during the week.

The sold-out show brought together 1,500 exhibitors from more than 60 countries, 90 civil and military aircraft and more than 390 civil, military and space delegations. Farnborough International estimated the orders were worth more than £13 billion to the UK economy.

The orders

The industry body ADS put the value of deals announced over the first four trade days at about £81.5 billion, covering 260 firm commercial aircraft orders and 808 engine orders. Widebody aircraft featured strongly. Among the announcements:

• Qatar Airways ordered 20 more Boeing 777-9s.
• Korean Air signed a memorandum of understanding for 20 Boeing 777-9s and 20 787-10s, with options on 10 more.
• Japan Airlines confirmed orders for Airbus A350-900s, A321neos and Boeing 787s.
• flynas of Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding for 75 A320neo family aircraft and 15 A330-900s, its first widebody order with Airbus.

The totals came while both Airbus and Boeing were struggling to raise production because of supply chain shortages, particularly of engines and cabin equipment. Many of the aircraft ordered at Farnborough 2024 are not due for delivery until the late 2020s or early 2030s.

A new government's first airshow

The show was opened by Sir Keir Starmer, less than three weeks after he became prime minister. He used the occasion to introduce Skills England, a new body intended to address skills shortages and widen access to training and apprenticeships, an issue of direct interest to aerospace employers struggling to recruit engineers and technicians.

A new UK Government Hub brought together ten government departments and agencies in one place, giving political, industry and international visitors a single point of contact on aerospace, defence and space policy.

Reaching wider audiences

For the first time, the flying display was streamed live, in partnership with Aerospace Global News. The stream drew more than 178,000 views over the week.

The final day was given over to Pioneers of Tomorrow, aimed at encouraging young people into aerospace careers. It combined an extended flying display with a Careers Hub where exhibitors could meet potential recruits, and brought in more than 20,000 public visitors.

Gareth Rogers, chief executive of Farnborough International, said the show had delivered for the aerospace, space and defence industries and achieved wide international media coverage. He said exhibitors regarded it as the most important event in the aerospace calendar.

Early bookings for 2026

By the end of the show, more than 100 companies had rebooked for the next edition, set for 20 to 24 July 2026. Early rebookings included Bell, Viasat, Reaction Engines, MBDA and Northrop Grumman. Kallman Worldwide signed for a 2,500 square metre pavilion for US companies, which the organiser said was the largest pavilion space in the show's history.

What has happened since

Reaction Engines, one of the companies that rebooked, entered administration on 31 October 2024 after failing to secure new funding for its SABRE engine and heat exchanger work. Most of its staff were made redundant.

The 2026 show went ahead on 20 to 24 July 2026. The organiser reported 141,580 trade and public visitors, a 41% rise on 2024 and nearly double the 2022 figure, with commercial deals worth more than $84.7 billion. These included 353 firm commercial aircraft orders and 904 firm engine orders. The 2026 deal value was lower than in 2024, but the number of firm aircraft and engine orders was higher. Vertical Aerospace flew its eVTOL aircraft in public at the 2026 show.