Dubai: Gulf aviation giants — Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways — are in talks with Boeing co. to order more than 200 redesigned 777x jetliners, according to sources close to the deal.
Dubai-based Emirates is reportedly in discussions for 100 to 150 of the 777x jetliners, while its Abu Dhabi counterpart Etihad is shopping for as many as 30. Qatar Airways is in discussions for “about 50.”
News of the discussion has come to the surface just 17 days ahead of the Dubai Airshow, which will be hosted in its purpose-built venue at Dubai World Central for the first time.
Speaking at a Dubai Airshow media event on Wednesday, Mohammad Ahli, Director General of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, said he expected a lot of deals at next month’s aviation industry event.
The Dubai Airshow is traditionally a platform for big announcement on aircraft orders by airlines and manufactures.
Ahead of next month’s event, rumours have been circulating on which airlines will be taking the biggest orders and what aircraft they were shopping for.
In a ‘Fact File’ circulated at Wednesday’s media event by Dubai Airshow organisers F&E Aerospace, Emirates is rumoured to “make an order to replace 175 twin-engine Boeing 777 wide bodies for Boeings 777X model.”
Separately listed in the fact file, Emirates is rumoured to place an order for 100 Boeing 777X aircraft at the Dubai Airshow in a deal worth $32 billion. It was also stated that Emirates would place an order for 30 additonal Airbus A380s at the show.
flydubai is rumoured to be ordering at least 50 aircraft worth $5 billion at this year’s event. flydubai has expanded its network with 16 new destinations so far in 2013, flying to a total of 66 destinations.
Etihad is rumoured to be taking 25 to 30 Boeing 777X and place a repeat order for 30 additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
Qatar Airways is rumoured to be taking 15 Airbus A330’s and Jazeera Airways to take delivery of the new Airbus A320 next June among other regional-based airlines.
Aircraft orders might not be the only announcements at next month’s show. Paul Griffiths, Dubai Airports Chief Executive Officer, said the Dubai Airshow would be the right venue for an announcement on new airlines flying from Al Maktoum International. However, he insisted that Dubai Airports has had enough of the “limelight” for the time being.
Speaking on the prospect of aircraft orders, Griffiths said as an airport CEO he was in no position to give an insight on what would or would not be taking place. Instead, he said that historically there has always been some surprises at the airshow and that he wouldn’t be surprised if this year was no different.
— Additional reporting from wires
