Airbus sees orders for 100 planes in Middle East in 2008

Dubai: Airlines in the Middle East are expected to buy at least 100 aircraft this year, a drastic drop in orders compared with 2007, according to Europe aircraft maker Airbus.

Regional carriers ordered 344 planes in 2007, with Emirates alone putting an order for 140 Airbus and Boeing planes at the November air show.

At the same event, Qatar Airways ordered 27 Boeing 777 planes while Saudi low-cast carrier Nasair said it would buy 20 A320s.

"This year's orders are going to exceed more than 100 planes. It is not going to be like last year, that was exceptional," Airbus Middle East President Habib Fekih told Gulf News.

Airbus forecasts that worldwide 24,000 planes will be bought in the next 20 years and 1,600 of these will be in the Middle East.

Fekih said Airbus has a 60 per cent share of the Middle East market and expects to maintain its position.

The company is in talks with several airlines, including Etihad and the upcoming Dubai budget airline, for new orders.

However, Fekih said he does not expect any new orders from Emirates airline this year.