The latest edition of Dubai Airshow opened at Dubai World Central on Sunday. Follow the event though our live updates. (With inputs from Andrew Staples, Alexander Cornwell and Sarah Algethami, Gulf News staff)
Dubai Airshow Day 5
1.31pm
Visitors take shelter from rain
Visitors take shelter from the rain during the last day at Dubai Air Show 201. Pictures: Zarina Fernandes.
12.37pm
Flying display to go ahead
The flying display will go ahead today, it has been announced.
There were fears the flying show would be cancelled due to wind and rain and the public had been earlier advised to check conditions before travelling out to Skyview, the grandstand at which the public can watch the flying show.
The flying display is open to the public and starts at 2pm today. Those with tickets for Wednesday's cancelled display can use them today.
12.06pm
Rain starts to come down at show
The rain has started to come down in the past few minutes at the Dubai Airshow, with trade visitors ducking for cover in the chalets and exhibition hall.
In 2013, the show was cancelled a day early due to strong winds and heavy rain.
11.16am
Don't travel to see flying display - organisers
Organisers are advising against non-trade visitors planning to watch the flying show today from travelling to the Airshow site at Dubai World Central (DWC).
The Flying Control Committee, responsible for the flying show, are expected to hold a meeting within the next hour and decide by 12:30pm whether the flying show will go ahead at 2pm.
Yesterday's flying show was cancelled due to the weather conditions.
11.05am
Trade visitors line up to get on-board and take a look at the Qatar Airways Airbus A350 at the Dubai Airshow.
9.53am
Unclear whether flying display will go ahead
Grey clouds form over the Dubai Airshow while dark clouds can be seen nearby over Jebel Ali.
Picture: Zarina Fernandes
It is unclear whether flying display will still go ahead today given the wind on site and showers over Dubai this morning. The flying show was cancelled yesterday due to 'adverse weather conditions'.
Picture: Zarina Fernandes
9.01am
No immediate concern of more rain
It's windy and dusty here at the Dubai Airshow this morning but it looks like there is no immediate concern of rain with mostly clear skies overhead.
The wind is picking up the desert sand and it appears that there is reduce visibility towards Jebel Ali.
8.45am
Rain clouds cover Dubai
The first rain showers of the season — albeit just a few drops — signalled the approaching winter has finally arrived in the city.
After a day which saw rain forecast but never arrive, Dubai residents awoke to overcast skies and light rain on Wednesday morning.
More here.
8.05am
Final day begins under rain showers
It is raining over Dubai this morning, just as it was two years ago when the 2013 Airshow ended. That year, heavy winds and rain forced the air show to close a day early, due to rain leaking into the exhibition hall and flooding parts of the static display where aircraft were parked outside.
On Wednesday, the flying show was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions' as strong winds swept desert sand across the show. This year's show has had little in common with the previous edition in 2013, at which more than $200 billion of orders were announced.
This year, major commercial orders announced at the show are so valued at $12 billion dollars with orders from India's Jet Airways and Vietnam's Vietjet, the latter being the only new order with Jet Airways simply confirming a previous announcement.
This year's show was brought forward two weeks in an effort to avoid a repeat of 2013. But it appears there is at least one thing the Dubai Airshow can count on - and that is rain.
Dubai Airshow Day 4
2.38pm
Flying display cancelled
The flying display at the Dubai Airshow today has been cancelled "due to adverse weather conditions," an announcement was made at the show just after 2:15pm.
Anyone who has purchased tickets for the Wednesday show will be able to use the same ticket tomorrow or can a refund by emailing customer service.
Those seeking a refund need to include their name (as it appears on the ticket), customer number, transaction number and a contact number, with the subject line “Skyview Refund Request”.
Strong winds swept up desert sand across Emirates Road this morning and into the show site where a number of workers were seen wearing glasses and masks over their faces.
10.32am
It's not all airplanes, helicopters and drones at the 2015 Dubai Airshow this week: pic.twitter.com/rloU78xZyO — Alexander Cornwell (@alexjcornwell) November 11, 2015
Qatar Airways and Emirates planes on display at Dubai Airshow 2015 | Alexander Cornwell
9.35am
It's a windy start to day 4 on Wednesday with desert sand being swept across the Emirates Road and into the venue.
Last time the Dubai Airshow was held in 2013, strong winds and heavy rain forced the show to close a day early with rain leaking into the exhibition centre, causing partial flooding of areas where aircraft were displayed. But a repeat doesn't look in sight with clear blues skies overhead at the moment.
The big - and only major announcement so far this week - order Tuesday was from Vietnamese low cost carrier VietJet who ordered 30 Airbus A321s with a list price value of $3.6 billion.
Dubai Airshow Day 3
1.24pm
UAE Joint Aviation Command signs AgustaWestland AW609 deal
The UAE Joint Aviation Command has signed an agreement for three firm orders of the AgustaWestland AW609 TiltRotor. The value of the deal was not disclosed.
12.21pm
VietJet Air to buy 30 Airbus A321s
Vietnamese carrier VietJet Air announces it is buying 30 additional Airbus A321s, including 9 A321ceos and 21 A321neos.
The order is is valued at just over $3.6 billion, according to list prices on the Airbus website
It is VietJet's third Airbus order in the past year. In 2014, the airline bought 63 A320s on firm order, leasing a further seven with options to buy a further 30. Earlier this year, at the Paris Air Show, it announced it would buy six A321ceo.
It is the first new order for the Dubai Airshow this year.
12.05pm
Airbus announcement expected in next 15 minutes
Airbus has told reporters to wait outside the press room just moments after saying there would be another delay. The announcement covers Airbus's A321 aircraft, a stretched version of its popular A320, according to the headline of an unpublished press release seen by Gulf News.
11.59am
Airbus is still negotiating
The announcement has been postponed again until an unknown time. VietJet Air flight attendants had been seen walking into the press room where Airbus is set to make the announcement just minutes ago. When airlines make announcements they usually flank the executives with their flight attendants. There is no new time for the announcement.
11.26am
Airbus negotiating deal at Dubai Airshow
European plane-maker Airbus is expected to announce it has signed a a new customer order at the Dubai Airshow today. The company has postponed its 11am press conference three times this morning with representatives telling reporters negotiations are ongoing. The press conference is now scheduled for midday.
Airbus is keeping tightlipped on the details but press kits from VietJet Air, a Vietnamese airline, can be seen in the room where the announcement would be made.
If Airbus is able to confirm the deal - and if it is for new aircraft - it would be the first new aircraft order at the 2015 Dubai Airshow. On Monday, India's Jet Airways announced it was confirming an order for 75 Boeing 737 MAXs in a deal valued at $8 billion at list prices.
11.01am
Emirates SkyCargo considers more service to Columbus
Emirates SkyCargo is looking at launching a second freighter service to Columbus, Ohio, Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President - Cargo at Emirates SkyCargo, told reporters on Tuesday.
Emirates SkyCargo officially opened their dedicated freighter facility at Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central (DWC). The facility has an initial capacity of handling 810,000 tonnes of cargo a year. By 2050, Emirates plans to expand this to 12 million tonnes a year.
9.35am
9.25am
One of Emirates Airlines' 15 freighters at the airlines cargo facility Emirates SkyCentral at Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central (DWC).
Dubai Airshow Day 2
5.22pm
Day two of the Dubai Airshow saw over $27.2 billion (Dh99 billion) in deals for planes and maintenance, according to a Gulf News tally.
1.28pm
UAE announced a $1.27 billion deal for upgraded Saab surveillance systems aboard new Bombardier aircraft that the country has acquired. Saab said the deal is for a new version of its Erieye radar system for the Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft.
1.10pm
Enoc announces Project Falcon, a 58km jet fuel pipeline from Jebel Ali storage terminal to Dubai International Airport, at a cost of $250m. The pipeline's pumping capacity is 55 per cent of the ultimate fuel demand of Dubai International. It includes provisions for future needs of Al Maktoum International Airport.
11.01am
Further delays in US government approvals for overseas aviation and defence projects could see US firms losing out to international competitors, Boeing vice-president Jeff Kohler said at Dubai Airshow.
11.27.am
Jet Airways places an order for 75 Boeing 737 Max , valued at $8b. It will start delivery over the next 5 years, starting from 2018. Ray Conner, president and chief executive of US-based Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said that the 737, a single aisle aircraft, is “the tool that Jet Aiways [will use] to compete in a dynamic market across the board.”
10.43am
Boeing's President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Muilenburg says he is hopeful the US and Gulf governments will continue to work together to create an open skies framework.
"We see free trade and freedom of the skies as key economic enablers and we see that as good for our airline customers in the Middle Easy and in the US."
9.25am, 9/11/2015
Exhibitors are already passing through the doors with the day 2 of the 2015 Dubai Airshow to get underway in just under an hour at 10AM. As expected there were no new orders at the show on day one with Emirates and Qatar Airways staying quiet. Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways did announce it is converting two Boeing 777 Freighter options into firms orders, the deal is worth $637 million at list prices.
On day 1 Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chief Executive and Chairman of Emirates airline and Group, said the Europe and the United States need the airline just as much it needs them. Emirates, along with other Gulf carriers, are facing an increasing amount of protectionism in Europe and the US. But Emirate argues its flights add value to their economies by stimulating air traffic and creating jobs for the destinations.
We also heard Adnoc say its retail petrol stations will make money for the first time in a decade next year. It said the removal of fuel subsidies earlier this year is the key driver for it returning to profit but they won't cover the losses for the last 10 years, Abdullah Al Daheri, chief executive officer of Adnoc Distribution, said on Sunday.
Flydubai told Gulf News the biggest challenge to their growth is how traffic rights in the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent are set up. Chief Executive Ghaith Al Ghaith said they were too restrictive and the airline would be much bigger if countries in the Middle East and Subcontinent were more open to foreign carriers.
3.46pm
Adnoc plans Dh1.5b in investments
Abdullah Al Dhaheri, CEO of Adnoc Distribution, says the company plans to pump Dh1.5 billion in investments in 2016.
While most of the investments will go towards expansion of service stations, some will be used to expand fuel depots. Al Dhaheri said that between 2005-mid 2015, a total of Dh40 billion were paid by the government in fuel subsidies. As a result of fuel deregulation, though, Adnoc expects to be profitable from next year.
3.40pm
An Airbus A350 at Dubai Airshow
#Airbus #A350 @ #dubaiairshow #das15 pic.twitter.com/wkmrhic5EM— Ali Khalil (@alkhalil72) November 8, 2015
3.15pm
flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith tells Gulf News the airline is working on introducing live television and Internet connectivity on board the airlines fleet, but did not say when the airline will introduce the new features.
1.45pm
Bombardier confirms CS300 launch customer
Canada's Bombardier confirms at the Dubai Airshow AirBaltic will be the launch customer of the CS300 with delivery of the first aircraft to start in the second half of 2016
Canada's Bombardier confirms at the Dubai Airshow that AirBaltic will be the launch customer of the CA300 pic.twitter.com/ULtyR4N7tz — Gulf News Business (@GulfNewsBiz) November 8, 2015
12.45pm
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, tours Dubai Airshow
.@HHShkMohd with @QatarAirways CEO Akbar Al Baker on a Qatar @Airbus #A380 pic.twitter.com/paXXc3rsr1— Alexander Cornwell (@alexjcornwell) November 8, 2015
.@HHShkMohd with @Airbus President Fabrice Bregier on an #A350 @gulf_news pic.twitter.com/SeEsnyvVVn— Alexander Cornwell (@alexjcornwell) November 8, 2015
11.55am
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is being accompanied by members of the Dubai ruling family, including Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, CEO and Chairman of Emirates airline and Group.
@HHShkMohd takes a tour of the 2015 #DubaiAirshow accompanied by the ME of F&E Aerospace, Michele van Akelijen pic.twitter.com/3R1wFvg5nC — Gulf News (@gulf_news) November 8, 2015
11.50am
.@HHShkMohd is onboard an @Airbus #A350 on static display at the show. @Emirates is considering an order of up to 100 of the aircraft. — Alexander Cornwell (@alexjcornwell) November 8, 2015
A @qatarairways flight has taken off from Al Maktoum International as @HHShkMohd + @MBZNews tour the Dubai Airshow. — Alexander Cornwell (@alexjcornwell) November 8, 2015
11.40am
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid and Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed open Dubai Airshow
.@HHShkMohd and Mohamed bin Zayed inaugurate #Dubai Airshow 2015 at Al Maktoum International Airport pic.twitter.com/5snipZ9R1o — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) November 8, 2015
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, opened the week-long 2015 Dubai Airshow on Sunday.
@HHShkMohd and Shaikh Mohammad bin Zayed officially open the 2015 #DubaiAirshow pic.twitter.com/iopUbrDvjD— Gulf News (@gulf_news) November 8, 2015
Over 65,000 trade visitors are expected to attend the regions premier aviation event.
Sales at this years show are expected to focus on defense spending as a number of Middle East countries face conflict on numerous fronts including in Yemen and Syria.
The last show, held in 2013, made headlines within minutes of opening with Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways announcing record aircraft orders.
Total sales at the 2013 show exceeded $200 billion with a substantial focus on commercial aircraft orders.
11.35am
You can 'fly a plane' at DAFZA stand
Ever dreamt of having the experience to fly a plane? Visit #DAFZA stand now in #DubaiAirshow #DAFZAAIRSHOW pic.twitter.com/K0yGdLZweS — DAFZA (@DAFZAOfficial) November 8, 2015
11.03am
Check out this @RollsRoyce engine. This beast powers @emirates A380 aircraft @GulfNewsBiz @MrJGoodwin @DubaiAirshow pic.twitter.com/pfMwqXIlnP
— Sarah Diaa (@TheSarahDiaa) November 8, 2015
10.55am
The best place — and only location on site — for the public to watch the flying shows is the Skyview grandstand at the airshow. The Skyview grandstand is open from Sunday to Thursday at noon, with the flying show running from 2pm until 5.30pm.
10.50am
Al Fursan jet on display opposite the Royal Pavilion at the Dubai Airshow
10.40am
The venue
The airshow, held every two years, is being held at Dubai World Central (DWC) — next to the new airport, Al Maktoum International, in the emirate’s south near Jebel Ali.
10.05am
Latest edition
The last show, held in 2013, made headlines within minutes of opening as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways announced record aircraft orders. By the end of the last show more than $200 billion in aircraft orders had been announced.
Press pack waiting on the opening on the Dubai Airshow. No official word on who will be opening the show. pic.twitter.com/vdDsbgR0yI — Alexander Cornwell (@alexjcornwell) November 8, 2015
This year's show is not expected to start the same way. Defence spending is expected to be a big focus of this year's show with Middle East countries fighting in Yemen and regional and Western countries fighting Da'esh in Syria and Iraq.
There are no press conferences set for today but we do have executives from Airbus, Bombardier, and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) speaking to the press today as well as the UK Defense Secretary who will speak with the media today at 4pm.
@DubaiAirshow officially opens in a few minutes. @emirates is already welcoming visitors at its stand @GulfNewsBiz pic.twitter.com/k1I336OqE7— Sarah Diaa (@TheSarahDiaa) November 8, 2015
