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Emirates dominates the show

By Abdul Basit DUBAI - Emirates airline dominated the Dubai Airshow with its $18 billion order while Airbus and Boeing finished the event neck and neck on agreements.

Dubai's fast-growing carrier kicked off the Middle East's biggest airshow with a huge order for 50 Boeing 777s, marking the US airplane maker's biggest-ever single order in dollar terms.

In addition to Emirates airline order, Boeing also signed another deal for two 777 freighters with Qatar Airways worth $560 million. US planemaker's rival Airbus' $17.6 billion order tally relied almost entirely on the new A320neo, which is the fastest-selling model.

Airbus on Wednesday claimed that it won a total of 211 orders and commitments at the 12^th Dubai Airshow worth $20.5 billion, underlining outstanding demand for the A320neo, and again proving its status as the fastest selling airliner ever. The count included completion of an order for 50 A320neo jets from Aviation Lease & Finance Company, or ALAFCO. The order intake includes 135 firm orders worth $13.7 billion (130 A320neo and five A380s) and 76 memorandum of understanding (MoU) worth $6.8 billion, according to European airplane maker.

John Leahy, chief operating officer (customers) of Airbus, said: "The order intake at this airshow is the second best we've ever had at Dubai. Our A320neo has again been the star of the show. But despite some storm clouds on the horizon there is still strong market demand for fuel-efficient aircraft from airlines and lessors." European planmaker's success at the event mirrored its performance at the Paris Air Show in June, where new engines for the aircraft manufacturer's 20 year-old A320 drew orders for hundreds of planes. At Dubai show, it's new A350 wide-body failed to lure business and instead drew criticism from Qatar Airways on design.

"Our A320neo has again been the star of the show," Leahy said, adding that despite some storm clouds on the horizon there is still strong market demand for fuel-efficient aircraft from 
airlines and lessors. Airbus also signed agreements with Kuwait's Aviation Lease & Finance Company, Spirit Airlines, a low-cost US airline that committed for 75 A320 jets, and US leasing firm Aviation Capital Group for 30 A320neo aircraft.

Airbus's order from Qatar Airways was signed after few hours of impasse and Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer remarked that Airbus didn't know how to make planes. Airbus is the world's leading aircraft manufacturer offering the most modern and efficient passenger aircraft families from 100 to over 500 seats. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS company.

The A320neo is a new engine option for the A320 Family entering into service from 2015 and incorporates latest generation engines and large "Sharklet" wing tip devices, which together will deliver 15 per cent in fuel savings. The A320neo has over 95 per cent airframe commonality making it an easy fit into existing fleets while offering up to 500 nautical miles (950 kilometres) more range or two tonnes more payload at a given range. By end of the Dubai Airshow sales of the neo have reached 1,420 orders and commitments in less than a year after launch, making it the fastest selling aircraft ever.

The A380 is the most advanced, spacious and eco-efficient airliner in service today. Typically seating 525 passengers in a three class layout, the A380 is capable of flying 8,300 nautical miles / 15,300 kilometres non-stop. Over 16 million passengers have already enjoyed the unique experience of flying on board the all-new aircraft. The in-service fleet has accumulated by now almost 400,000 revenue flight hours in nearly 45,000 commercial flights. As of today total firm orders for the aircraft stand at over 243 from 18 customers worldwide.

© Khaleej Times 2011