Airbus stole the limelight, winning mega contracts from Dubai’s Emirates airline and Sharjah’s low-cost Air Arabia.
Dubai Airshow 2019 witnessed a volley of mega deals on the second day, mostly from UAE carriers, with the total tally crossing the Dh120 billion mark, following a lull on the first day of the exhibition.
Airbus stole the limelight, winning mega contracts from Dubai’s Emirates airline and Sharjah’s low-cost Air Arabia, raking in $30 billion (Dh110.1 billion). Emirates placed an order for 50 Airbus A350 worth $16 billion (Dh58.7 billion) while Air Arabia ordered 120 Airbus aircraft of A320 family worth $14 billion (Dh51.4 billion).
The UAE’s Ministry of Defence announced Dh7.6 billion worth of defence deals which involved enhancement, maintenance and purchase of parts and ammunition for the country’s military.
“This $16-billion deal reflects our confidence in the future of the UAE’s aviation sector, and is a strong affirmation of Dubai’s strategy to be a global nexus connected to cities, communities and economies via a world-class and modern aviation sector,” Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group and airline, said while announcing the deal on Monday.
Emirates will start receiving deliveries of the new A350 from May 2023 and continue until 2028.
Air Arabia’s order of 112 Airbus aircraft consists of 73 A320neo, 27 A321neo and 20 A321XLR airplanes, which will more than triple its current fleet of 53 planes. Delivery of the new order is scheduled to commence in 2024.
US planemaker Boeing managed to grab an order from SunExpress for 10 additional 737 MAX, which has been grounded after the fatal crashes earlier this year, for an estimated cost of $1.2 billion (Dh4.4 billion).
