UAE - Dubai Airshow 2019 closed on Thursday by recording a total of over $50 billion (Dh183.6 billion) worth of total deals with European aerospace giant Airbus grabbing the most orders valued at $30 billion, far outpacing its rival Boeing, which won deals worth 17.46 billion. Around $20 billion of these commercial purchasing announcements were made by low-cost carriers.

On the opening day, Airbus stole the thunder with $14 billion orders from UAE budget carrier Air Arabia in a deal for 120 Airbus A320s. Boeing bagged deals worth $1.785 billion on opening day, including a $1.2 billion from SunExpress, a Turkey-based airline, for 10 Boeing 737 MAX planes and $585 million for two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners from Biman.

SunExpress, a subsidiary of Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, exercised options for an additional 10 of the 737 Max 8 planes. SunExpress had previously ordered 32 of the 737 Max jetliners.

Total defence deals for the first two days, comprising enhancement, maintenance and purchase of parts and ammunition for the UAE's Armed Forces and Air Force, reached $4 billion. On the second day, Air Arabia announced a mega deal to buy 120 Airbus A320s worth $14 billion, while on the third day, Emirates placed $16 billion orders for 50 Airbus 350-900 WXB wide-body aircraft, with delivery to begin in May 2023. The deal replaces an earlier plan to buy 30 A350s and 40 A330neos in a deal worth $21.4 billion.

On the penultimate day of the show, Emirates announced that it is reducing the number of orders for Boeing's problematic 777X. Dubai's flagship carrier has decided to cut its orders for the 777X by 30 aircraft to 126 by employing its substitution rights to swap the order out for 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for $u8.8 billion. The 777X programme over at Boeing has been beset with engine problems involving the massive General Electric GE9X engine needed to power the plane putting Boeing behind schedule with its deliveries.

Kazakhstan's flag carrier Air Astana placed $3.6 billion order for 30 Boeing 737 MAX planes. The US planemaker also won $2.4 billion worth of orders for 20 Boeing 737 MAX planes from an undisclosed buyer.

Around 100 new firms have made their Dubai Airshow debut in 2019, with new arrivals on the defence, ATC, maintenance and supply fields all exhibiting for the first time at the show.

The dedicated feature pavilions for space, cargo and global air traffic management also attracted new companies to the region keen to be part of the growing aerospace market.

The number of exhibitors in attendance is up by almost 10 per cent this year, with 1,288 companies setting out their stands, and business has been brisk throughout the first four days of proceedings.

Michele van Akelijen, managing director of show organisers Tarsus F&E LLC Middle East, said: "From the biggest companies in the aerospace field to those just starting out, the Dubai Airshow offers a unique environment for building business relationships. It is fantastic to see this confirmed in the experience of our new exhibitors this year, and we look forward to welcoming many of them back to Dubai Airshow in the years to come.

 

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