Both Boeing and Airbus have come to the Paris Air Show without permanent leaders. EADS has missed its target of June 1 to find a successor for Nöel Forgeard at Airbus and to complete its own management restructuring. Forgeard in effect still acts as CEO of Airbus while serving alongside Thomas Enders as co-chief executives of EADS.

Meanwhile, Boeing has not publicly set a firm target date to replace Harry Stonecipher, who resigned his post as CEO in March. Chief financial officer James Bell still serves as president and CEO on an interim basis, while board chairman Lew Platt performs an expanded role in his capacity as nonexecutive chairman.

It is questionable whether there can be a lasting resolution to the U.S./Europe aerospace subsidy row with neither of the main protagonists having top bosses.