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Future looks bright as event breaks all records
As the record-breaking Dubai Airshow 2007 - the biggest in the event's history - closes today, the future of the biennial event looks brighter than ever as major regional players outlined huge expansion plans.
- Gulf News Report
- Published: 23:27 November 14, 2007
- Britain’s Red Arrows accompany an Emirates aircraft in a demonstration fly-by at the airshow. The penultimate day of the event saw many more orders being announced.
- Image Credit: Atiq-ur-Rehman/Gulf News
Dubai: As the record-breaking Dubai Airshow 2007 - the biggest in the event's history - closes today, the future of the biennial event looks brighter than ever as major regional players outlined huge expansion plans.
Orders continued at the show - which has already broken all aerospace exhibition on-site order books with an intake in excess of $100 billion - with Airbus announcing the sale of nine A321 aircraft to the new Egyptian airline Nile Air.
"Airbus ended the 10th Dubai Airshow with major orders, re-enforcing customer confidence in its leading product range," a statement said.
During the show, Airbus received 163 firm orders valued at over $28 billion at catalogue prices, from 10 customers. Airbus also won its largest ever order in terms of value for 70 A350 XWBs and 11 A380s from Emirates.
In addition, it received 132 commitments from three customers.
"Demand for the A350 XWB was very strong with a total of 80 firm orders from two customers. In addition to the Emirates order for 70 aircraft, Airbus received a firm contract from Yemenia for 10 A350s. In addition Dubai Aero-space Enterprise Capital (DAE-Capital) committed to acquire 30 A350s, while C Jet Limited of Hong Kong became the first customer for the VIP version of the A350XWB Prestige. Total firm orders for the type now stand at 276 from 11 customers," Airbus release said.
Airbus' Single Aisle Family continued its success with 66 firm orders, plus commitments for an additional 101 received from nine customers, including 20 from NAS, 70 from DAE Capital, 22 from Saudi Arabian Airlines, 34 from Air Arabia, eight from Air Blue, nine from Nile Air and four from private customers. The order from Saudi Arabian Airlines was the first from the airline in 25 years.
"This Airshow has confirmed that Airbus is very much back on the market, continuing to satisfy customers with the right products," says Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Cust-omers John Leahy.
Highlight
"The A380 and A350 XWB have been the highlight of the show, receiving tremendous customer endorsement. They will lead the way in the future in terms of aircraft technology, passenger comfort and environment friendliness."
Saudi Arabia's National Air Services, the fastest-growing independent provider of aviation services in the region, said it will add 120 new aircraft, worth $4 billion, to its fleet over the next five years.
Europe Aviation and Fujairah International Airport also signed a MoU to develop an Aircraft Maintenance Facility at the airport, signalling the emirate's growing importance as an aviation centre on the UAE's east coast.
"The entire regional aviation sector has demonstrated commitment to huge investment and expansion at this show which can only be good for the Dubai Airshow, which will mirror the growth," said Virginia Kern, Chairman, Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E), which organises the event in conjunction with the Civil Aviation Authority of Dubai and in collaboration with the UAE Armed Forces.
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