Dubai Airshow commences with anticipated aircraft orders
from leading Gulf airlines
The Dubai Airshow, the premier aerospace event in the UAE,
opens today, drawing attention to major announcements expected from prominent
Gulf carriers such as Emirates, flydubai, and Riyadh Air. Held at the Dubai
World Central under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the five-day
event gathers over 1,400 exhibitors from 148 countries.
Sheikh Mohammed, recognized for initiating the concept
decades ago, expressed expectations of "greater growth" at this
year's edition, following the substantial $74 billion in deals from the previous
event. Emirates and flydubai are poised to make significant announcements,
potentially including a new order for multiple Boeing 777X jets.
MEBAA
show in Dubai to bring together key players from over 95 countries
Emirates, with an existing order book comprising 200
widebodies, is anticipated to disclose details, building on its outstanding
order that features 120 777-9s, 30 787s, and 50 A350-900s. The announcement
follows the Emirates Group's record profit of 10.1 billion UAE dirhams ($2.7
billion) in the first half of the 2023/2024 financial year.
Riyadh Air, set to launch in 2025, is also expected to
unveil announcements, potentially involving an order for Boeing 737 MAXs to
expand its narrow-body fleet. Bloomberg reports suggest Riyadh Air is nearing
an order for up to 100 Boeing 737 MAXs, with a potential firm order for 50 and
options for an additional 50.
Crown
Prince Mohammed bin Salman announces establishment of Riyadh Air
Despite regional geopolitical challenges, the Middle East's
aviation sector has shown robust growth, as indicated by a 26.6% increase in
September traffic for Middle Eastern airlines, according to IATA. Dubai Airports
reported a 49% rise in guests served in the first half of 2023, reflecting a
surge in second-quarter passenger traffic. The 'Global Travel Report by World
Travel Market' affirmed the Middle East's travel sector's complete recovery
from the pandemic slump, with a projected 13.8% increase in leisure visitors to
the region in 2023. Notably, this recovery has been driven by strong
performances in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Source: https://www.zawya.com/