Update: Etihad announces more Airbus orders, including 36 A320 Neo planes, for a total list price of $26.9 billion (Dh98.7 billion).
Additional order from Emirates
Emirates orders 50 additional A380s valued at $23 billion (Dh84.4 billion) at the opening day of the Dubai Airshow on Sunday. The order will boost Emirates' total A380 fleet to 140.
Big airlines place orders
Emirates placed a $76-billion (Dh279.68 billion) order for 150 Boeing 777Xs while Qatar Airways signed a letter of intent for 50 Boeing 777-9X valued at over $19 billion (Dh69.7 billion). flydubai also ordered up to 100 Boeing 737MAX and 11 737NGs for $11.4 billion (Dh41.8 billion).
"The response to the 777X has been astounding," Boeing Chairman James McNerney said at a packed news conference to officially launch the new pla
Etihad places order
Etihad announces $25.2 billion Boeing order for 82-wide body aircraft including 777x and 787s at the Dubai Airshow on Sunday.
Airshow opens
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Sunday opened the 13th edition of the Dubai Airshow.
The event opened at its new permanent purpose-built home near Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central.
Shaikh Mohammad led a royal delegation around the tarmac where the planes are located before touring the exhibition hall.
Also present were Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council.
About the Dubai Airshow
The biennial trade show brings together a who’s who of the regional and global aviation industry including Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Boeing, and Airbus among others.
This year’s event is set to be the largest, according to event organisers F&E Aerospace. There will be more than 1,000 exhibitors with up to 60,000 trade visitors expected.
Speaking to Gulf News on Thursday F&E Aerospace Chief Executive Officer Sharief Fahmy said that Airshow has confirmed more 150 static aircraft displays and that the US military has confirmed fly-bys from a F22 and B1 aircraft.
The AirbusA400m military aircraft and the Boeing F/A -18E Super Hornet will be on display in the region for the first time.
Dubai-staple Emirates will display one of its Airbus A380s while Qatar Airways will have a 787 Dreamliner, Bombardier Global 5000, and a Airbus A330F on show.
Airlines will also be keen to show the changes to the interior of their fleets. Hybrid airlines flydubai and flynas (formerly nasair) will each have planes on hand displaying their respective new business classes.
Raja Azmi, flynas Chief Executive Officer, told Gulf News the airline will also showcase its new airplane livery since rebranding from the nasair name.
Exhibitor space
Last month F&E Aerospace hosted the press at the new venue in Dubai World Central to showcase the new location that includes an exhibitor space the size of seven American football fields.
The move to the new location has been driven by Dubai’s evolving aviation sector driven by the growth of Emirates. Previously held at airport Expo near Dubai International the Airshow has moved to its new location because of the show’s growth.
Fahmy previously said that the new site meant the show was subject to less flying restrictions.
At its new location the Dubai Airshow has more than twice the available space with a total site size of 645,000 kilometres.
We definitely built a venue that attracts the right type of business to the Dubai airshow,” Fahmy said speaking about the new Dubai World Central location.
For the first time in the Middle East French aerospace company EADS will have an integrated presence alongside Airbus, Eurocopter, and Cassidian product static displays.
Along with the Emirates branded A380, Airbus will have a fill size A350 XWB cockpit mock-up at the show.
Airbus will also have several military aircraft on display.
Military
American competitor Boeing will look to showcase its industry partnerships at this year's Airshow.
In service with UAE Armed Forces, Boeing will have a UAE Land Forces AH-64D Apache helicopter and a UAE Air Force C-17 Gobermaster III airlifter on show along with other military displays.
The Dubai Airshow is an industry-only event hosted from November 17-21 with tickets available at the door. F&E Aerospace is holding Skyview for the first time from November 18 – 21. The family-oriented Skyview is open to the general public giving visitors access to a 4,000 grandstand to watch aerial displays along with aircraft on the ground.
With input from Sarah Algethami, Staff Reporter, and agencies
