The 2022 edition of the Farnbor-ough International Airshow, held from July 18 to 22, arrived at one of the most confusing times in the history of aviation, bookmarked by a pandemic that first created what amounted to an industry-wide shutdown only to be followed by complete chaos in its reopening. (For a view of the reopening chaos in Canada see David Carr's column on page 15.) Held biannually in even years, Farnborough has long served as the harbinger event of aviation technology innovation and acceptance. The confusing environment in aviation, however, is perhaps seen through a handful of airlines needing to dust off their A380 superjumbo jets and bring them back into service after the aircraft was largely mothballed at the height of the Co-vid-19 pandemic. Airbus in 2019 noted it would cease deliveries of the A380 in 2021, as its showcase carrier Dubai-based Emirates pulled back its A380 order book by 39 aircraft. Before the pandemic, the industry at large was turning toward single-aisle efficiency with new engines powering longer range - a trend inspired in large part by Bombardier's development of what is now the Airbus A220 series before that same narrowbody trend was all but derailed by two horrific Boeing 737 Max accidents.
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