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Dubai: The 13th edition of the Dubai Airshow opened on Sunday with aircraft order deals signed to the tune of a whopping $199.2 billion for a total of 573 aircraft (a mix of Airbus and Boeing) between the three big Gulf carriers Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, in addition to Dubai’s budget carrier, flydubai.
These include Emirates’ $99bn order for 200 planes (150 Boeing 777X planes and 50 additional Airbus A380s) in addition to purchase options for 50 purchase rights for B777-X; a $67bn order from Etihad Airways for a total of 199 planes (117 Airbus family planes and 82 Boeing aircraft) besides 294 engines; Qatar Airways’ $21.8bn order for of 63 aircraft, including options, comprised of 50 Boeing 777-9X valued at $19bn and 13 Airbus planes (five Airbus A330-200 freighter aircraft, and eight options).
Meanwhile, flydubai ordered a total of 111 planes from Boeing including 100 B737MAX planes and 11 B737-800s at a total value of $11.4bn.
Emirates’ order includes 35 Boeing 777-8Xs, which is expected to enter service around the end of this decade, and 115 Boeing 777-9Xs.
Etihad’s order was split between 30 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, a Boeing 777freighter, 50 Airbus A350XWB (extra wide body), 36 Airbus A320neo family aircraft besides one Airbus A330-200 freighter plane.
“Air transport is a key enabler of world trade, and we see that demand for aviation services will continue to grow globally. What we are announcing today [Sunday] is a continuation of our commitment and vision to connect the world through our efficent hub in the Middle East,” Shaikh Ahmad bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, and Chairman of flydubai, said while addressing the media on day of the Airshow.
Not a bad start [to the Airshow]. These orders are huge, by any standards, and will require Etihad, Emirates and flydubai to work hard to find and develop new markets, as well as requiring changing the profile and the density of a number of existing markets. As markets mature and deepen, even larger aircraft, such as the A380, which Emirates also ordered, can then offer additional capacity,” aviation analyst, Andrew Charlton of Aviation Advocacy, told Gulf News.
“There will also need to be considerable investment in infrastructure, including both airports and airspace, not just in the Gulf but worldwide,” he added.
The Emirates and flydubai deals, which were signed by Shaikh Ahmad and the chiefs of both Boeing and Airbus, was witnessed by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE’s Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai.
The Airshow at its new venue at Dubai World Central spanned a massive 645,000 square metres site far bigger than the show’s previous Dubai Airport Expo home. Around 1,055 exhibitors from 60 countries are taking part in this year’s Airshow, which is expected to draw around 60,000 trade visitors.
Dubai Airshow opens with orders worth almost $200b | GulfNews.com
