Dubai Airshow 2021: aviation industry’s comeback journey begins here

The global aviation industry’s biggest event this year - Dubai Air Show 2021 - is turning up the tempo at Dubai World Central. And sets a landmark from the opening second itself by being the first-in person aviation event since the pandemic.

So, it’s goodbye to grounded fleets and airports bereft of travellers. The last few weeks have shown that travellers and airlines the world over are making up for lost time in 2020.

This Dubai Air Show thus pumps in oxygen to the industry in speeding the recovery process. With more than 1,200 exhibitors from 148 countries, this event sets up that platform.

Routes are reopening, and one of the few remaining countries not to have opened up in full - India - will soon do so, according to top office.

Amidst the talk of business improvement and favourable weather for airlines, sustainability will be a top agenda item given increasing pressure from investors and activists to cut carbon emissions. The talk will mostly be about adopting more fuel-efficient aircraft and sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs).

In a landmark move in October, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) approved a resolution for the global air transport industry to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Boeing and Airbus will hold talks with airlines to discuss orders amid global supply crunch, Boeing will display the world’s largest twin-engine aircraft – 777X, while Airbus is also brining its biggest twin-engine jet.

European plane-maker Airbus predicted that the aviation industry would require around 39,000 aircraft in the next 20 years. This will create demand for more than 550,000 new pilots and over 710,000 highly-skilled technicians, it said.

With air traffic returning to pre-COVID-19 levels, the demand for freighters has nearly doubled. Global demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers, was up 7.7 per cent compared to August 2019.

In further proof of the industry heading for a post-pandemic recovery, Emirates Group saw an 81 per cent gain in revenues.

The Dubai Airshow is a testament to the emirate’s response to the pandemic, said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, and Chairman and CEO of Emirates airline and group, during a media briefing earlier this month.

Apart from the many flying displays, Dubai Airshow 2021 will also hold conferences around cargo, sustainability and technology.

The Irish rock band, The Script, will helm the by invite-only Gala Dinner at the Dubai Airshow The trio will perform on November 17 at Atlantis, The Palm.

For the airline industry, four words will sum up the Dubai Air Show - the Recovery is On!