Major orders expected to dominate airshow

Dubai: The 10th Dubai Airshow begins today with up to 40,000 visitors expected and is slated to become the largest yet for the biannual event.

The $21 billion in plane orders at the last show in 2005 could be shattered as airlines and leasing firms have said they will announce big order at the event.

The five-day show at Dubai Airport Expo kicks off with an opening ceremony and royal tour at 10am, led by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Local, regional and international dignitaries will join him.

The event, which showcases 850 exhibitors from 50 countries covering commercial, private and military aviation, is for industry professionals only.

The show is expected to put an end to months of speculation over multi-billion dollar orders from Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air Arabia and Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE).

Emirates has said it is considering an order between 50 to 100 mid-sized aircraft, and it is thought the airline will order either the Airbus A350XWB or Boeing 787 Dreamliner in a deal that could be valued at between $15 to $20 billion.
Emirates has also said it would like to double its order of A380 aircraft, which currently stands at 55.

Qatar Airways will reveal whether it is the buyer of a 30-plane order for 787 Dreamliners that has been on Boeing's order list for an “undisclosed'' client.

Air Arabia said it may order as many as 50 aircraft and is expected to choose between the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 in a deal worth potentially $4 billion.

DAE also may use the airshow to announce the start of its aircraft leasing business.

The extravaganza begins at 10am the first day and at 9am each of the following days. There are more than 140 aircraft on display.

The flying displays will feature performances by three of the world's top aerobatics teams — Britain's Red Arrows flying the BAE Systems' training Hawk, the Patrouille de France in the Dassault/Dornier AlphaJet, and Spain's Patrulla Aguila, which is making its Gulf debut.