UK bars Russian delegation from Farnborough Airshow over Ukraine crisis

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Today marks the start of the noisy aviation festival that is the Farnborough Airshow. UK prime minister David Cameron is milling about with Qatar Airways’ Akbar Al Baker – but the Russian contingent is expected to be very small after most members were refused visas.  The Foreign Office told Russian news service Itar-Tass: “Due to Russian actions in Ukraine, no representatives from the Russian government have been issued Her Majesty’s Government invitations”. It added that London had taken clear action to remove Russia from the list of countries eligible to buy British aeroplanes or equipment, “in order to discourage Russian attendance” at FIA 2014. With the EU also giving Russia the cold shoulder, particularly with regard to new new air cargo security rules, Russia’s aviation market could be facing a tough time. At Farnborough, meanwhile, expect a deluge of aircraft orders.