The organiser of the Farnborough air show is facing a £6 million ($9.5 million) law suit after deciding to switch suppliers for the air show's semi-permanent exhibition buildings.
London-based Black & Edgington Hire (B&E), long-time supplier of the show's chalets and exhibition halls, is suing the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) for breach of contract. It lost the business, which is believed to be going to De Boerd of the Netherlands, following bidding earlier this year.
B&E claims that the SBAC is contractually not allowed to switch suppliers until the existing show structures are financially written down - in about 2000.
The current equipment, supplied in 1988, is believed to have cost B&E some £8 million. The SBAC contract is valued at £3-4 million a show. B&E says, that its bid would save the SBAC £1 million, compared with the last show.
The SBAC declines to comment on the matter.
Source: Flight International