Orders for both Boeing and Airbus products have climbed rapidly at the Dubai Airshow.
Today, November 20th, Emirates Chairman and Chief Executive HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, announced an order of 30 787-9s from Boeing worth $8.8m, converting 30 of a previous order for the 777x of which 126 remain on order. The order confirms the airline’s strategy of replacing the A380 with smaller widebodies. Given the controversy surrounding the 737 Max return to service, and delays to the introduction of the 777x, President of Emirates, Tim Clark appears wary. ‘I want one aircraft to go through hell on earth, basically to make sure it all works.’
Yesterday, Tuesday 19th November, The Chief Planning Officer of Air Astana, Alma Aliguzhinova signed a letter of intent for thirty 737 Max 8 aircraft worth an estimated $6bn. The aircraft are expected to enter service at the Kazakhstan bases of Almaty and Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana) in the central Asian republic during 2021, as part of the new low-cost carrier FlyArystan. This appears to be a major departure for the carrier, given it currently operates a mixed fleet of A320s, and just a handful of B757s and 767s.
Image; Boeing
Also yesterday, Boeing and the Joseph Kofi Adda, Honourable Minister of Aviation in the Republic of Ghana announced the purchase of three 787-9 Dreamliners. The to-be re-launched national airline intends to operate the 787s from its hub in Accra regionally within west Africa and to Europe, North America and Asia in the longer-term.
Remaining in west Africa, Air Senegal has signed a memorandum of understanding to supplement its fleet, based in Dakar, with eight A220-300s. The MoU was signed by HE Alioune SARR, Minister of Tourism and Transport of Senegal. The aircraft will be used to supplement Air Senegal’s networks within west Africa and to Europe, says the CEO Mr Ibrahima Kane.
Image; Airbus SAS 2019
Lessor General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) has purchased 12 A330NEOs and 20 A321XLRs. The A330s are to be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, a competitor with GE.
EgyptAir has added to its existing 787-9 fleet by leasing a further two examples from the Dublin-based lessor AerCap bringing its total to eight.
Saudi Arabia’s first low cost carrier flynas has placed a firm order for 10 A321XLRs, complementing its current fleet of 31 A320s.
Image; Airbus SAS 2019
Finally, an anonymous airline has agreed to purchase 10 737 Max-7s and 10 Max-10s from Boeing.
More orders are expected during the Dubai Air Show which ends tomorrow, November 21st.
