Dubai: Boeing’s Dreamliner 787 is making its Middle East debut at the Dubai Airshow on Sunday.
The aircraft, mostly made of composite materials, landed earlier on Saturday at Dubai International Airport. Boeing officials said the aircraft "belongs to a class of its own".
The twin-engine, 240-seater, which started commercial flights a few weeks ago, has 821 on firm order including 130 from the Middle East. Qatar Airways will be the first in the region to receive the Dreamliner, in mid-2012, Boeing officials said.
Of these, Qatar Airways has 30 and Etihad Airways has 31 on firm orders.
The delivery of the Dreamliner had been delayed a number of times and has been nearly three-years behind schedule. Currently five Dreamliners are assembled every two months.
Boeing has 300 aircraft on firm orders in the Middle East – a region which is the second highest aviation growth market in the world. Boeing is expecting a series of orders at the Dubai Airshow that kicks off tomorrow.
“All I could say that we have a number of signings (orders) at the Airshow,” Randy Tinseth, Boeing’s Vice President, Marketing Commercial Airplanes.
Other Boeing officials remained tight-lipped on possible orders at the Airshow.
Jeffrey Johnson, president of Boeing Middle East said: “Our legacy in the Middle East goes back more than 65 years, and throughout that time we have earned the trust of our partners and customers here through meaningful collaboration, contributions to the community, and providing the right services at the right time.
“We remain committed to further strengthening our presence and partnerships with governments, enterprises and customers to develop and grow regional aerospace infrastructure and capabilities.”
