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Farnborough International Airshow 2024 Highlights

“The 2024 Farnborough International Airshow – the most in demand in the event’s 75 + year history – has drawn to a close.

Total deals announced between Monday and Thursday are worth an estimated £13bn to the UK at current prices. The £81bn in deals announced over the last four days include 260 firm commercial aircraft orders and 808 engine orders. Against the backdrop of our already significant order backlog, that’s pretty special.

I am beyond proud of the success this show has been and am deeply humbled by the hard work so many people put in to make this show a success.

That not only includes my team across ADS and FIL, but everyone who attended and exhibited, particularly our members. That is why I am taking this opportunity to thank all of you. I am confident in saying this year’s Farnborough International Airshow delivered, providing you unbeatable opportunities to build new connections, engage with thought leaders, and pioneer change. This show is truly the platform for convening the conversations that matter.

One of those was with Sir Keir Starmer MP. We were, as I’m sure you all saw, joined by the Prime Minister on the first day of the Airshow. This is a brilliant example of the value placed on this event (and our sectors) by the new Government, and across stakeholders in Westminster. We welcomed six Secretaries of State, as well as other ministers and MPs from a range of political parties. Highly relevant and valued discussions were had with all political stakeholders who attended, and thank you to all of you that helped make that happen.

We should also highlight the success our sectors have had in Northern Ireland, where earlier this week we announced our sectors had met the highly ambitious target set out in the Northern Ireland Partnering for Growth Strategy to double turnover in Northern Ireland in a decade. 9,000 jobs are created by our sectors in Northern Ireland. It means more people can earn their living in high pay high productivity jobs, the UK economy grows, and we become more secure as the defence industrial base grows.

I will simply end by thanking you all, deeply, for all your support in making 2024’s Farnborough International Airshow great.”

Kevin Craven, ADS Chief Executive

Day 1 highlights include:

  • Hosting Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, Secretary of State for Department for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds MP, with our new site MP Alex Baker MP at the ADS stand​
  • Introducing Secretary of State for Defence, John Healy MP, to ADS members and apprentices​
  • Attending a Roundtable with Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh MP, on sustainability, aviation and fuel​
  • Meeting Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle MP​
  • Meeting with members at the President’s Reception & Welcome Reception

Day 2 highlights include:

  • The Aerospace Global Forum: Sustainability Forum​
  • The Aerospace Growth Partnership Destination Zero session with Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department for Business and Trade​
  • Department for Business and Trade US / UK space industry roundtable co-hosted with Aerospace Industries Association
  • Launching our Northern Ireland Facts and Figures – where growth in the sectors has exceeded the targets set out in the Northern Ireland Partnering for Growth Strategy!
  • ADS, GIFAS and BDLI announced the launch of Aero Excellence™️International.

Day 3 highlights include:

  • Intro to the Aerospace Global Forum: Defence Forum with Air Marshall Paul Lloyd CBE Deputy Chief of Air Staff
  • Briefing Dan Jarvis, Minister of State at the Home Office to highlight the contribution of our security and resilience industry to UK national security
  • Constructive procurement-focussed dialogue for our SME members during a roundtable with The Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP, Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry and representatives from UKDSE and DE+S
  • Joint with DSEI, we also held our member’s reception. The turnout was amazing, and it was a great opportunity to catch up with members. Thank you to everyone who joined us.

Day 4 highlights include:

  • Touring the Deputy ambassador from the EU delegation in London and 26 EU Delegates. This was a great chance to connect the EU delegation with our members and encourage engagement with UK industry.
  • Exploring the opportunities available for the bedrock of our industrial ecosystem – our SMEs – through both the SC21 and AeroExcellence International programmes.

 

Day 5 highlights include:

A huge congratulations to Ampleforth College who have taken the global title in the International Youth Rocketry Challenge!

This year’s competition was extremely tight with winning teams from our friends in France, Japan and the US joining here in Farnborough.

Thank you to Airbus and Lockheed Martin for sponsoring this year’s UK competition!