THE PUBLIC weekend of the Farnborough Airshow has been scrapped, with the famous aerospace event now reduced in size from seven to five days.
In early March, organiser Farnborough International Ltd said the next edition of the biennial event in July 2020 would not have a two-day public weekend, the traditional end to the show following five trade days.
The public weekend has attracted criticism from enthusiasts in recent years because many of the new aircraft in attendance during the trade days leave the show ahead of the public days, leaving a sparse flying display; at last year’s event, some aircraft displayed twice during the day to fill the gaps. Farnborough International said there will instead be public access on the Friday, including to the exhibition halls, which it said will better highlight new technology and manufacturing to the public and encourage aerospace careers in young people. The Friday event was promoted in 2018 as a Futures Day.
The organiser added there will be a flying display on each of the five days of the 2020 show.
