GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12736 posts, RR: 79 Reply 3, posted (10 years 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2338 times:
Though some US companies have said in recent years that they doubt the actual business case for attending airshows, as regards generating sales, this US non-appearance at Paris 2003 seems a case of 'cutting off your nose to spite your face'.
A shame.
Bobrayner From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2003, 2227 posts, RR: 7 Reply 4, posted (10 years 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 2331 times:
I doubt "cowards" is the right word. Flying in France is hardly dangerous!
A small number of people (including, unfortunately, some big politicians, and journalists, on both sides of the Atlantic) seem to have been very childish in the last few months. This hardly applies to hundreds of millions of people, though, and I don't think most senior managers in the aviation industry are going to earn their bonus by being childish with [potential] customers.
Charleslp From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 336 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (10 years 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 2325 times:
One thing that is actually kind of odd is the fact that US is supposedly the "leader of capitalism." Doesn't it seem kind of odd that the US Government is telling the aerospace industy that it can't go to Paris "because they (the French) were against us"? Doesn't this kind of sound like COMMUNISM?!
STT757 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 16318 posts, RR: 52 Reply 8, posted (10 years 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 2321 times:
I don't remember anyone making a boycott of France "Official", I think people and companies make their own decisions.
If a aerospace company decides not to go Paris to get on the good side of the current administration so what, it's not the same thing as a totalitarian Government ordering their people not to do something.
And besides there are many US Comapanies (Boeing and Honeywell included) at the Paris air show, this years contingent is smaller than previous years but that can be attributed to many factors. Lingering anger at the French Government, and the current economic and aviation slow down means there's not to many buying. So why splurge on folks who are "just browsing", orders are won in board room meetings. Not at airshows.
Bobrayner From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2003, 2227 posts, RR: 7 Reply 9, posted (10 years 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2311 times:
orders are won in board room meetings. Not at airshows
If so, then how can so many businesses cost-justify appearing at airshows year after year?
I agree in part - it's often an opportunity to show off some contract that was signed weeks ago, or some product that might have been available last month or might not be in production until xmas, or or or...
However, airshows are still an excellent opportunity to push presentations, wine and dine potential buyers, check out the competition's stand, cajole would-be buyers, and so on.
If it doesn't make economic sense for US firms to make a big effort, then you must wonder why everybody else is bothering to make an effort.
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