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Airbus tops order table at Gulf’s leading industry show
December 1st 2019
Airbus dominated the order book at the Dubai Airshow last month but the Gulf’s leading air show also provided a ray of hope for Boeing with orders for MAX jets from Turkey’s SunExpress and also Air Astana. Read More »
SunExpress exercised options for 10 MAX 8s, valued at US$1.2 billion at list prices. The leisure carrier had earlier ordered 32 of the type, although none had been delivered. Kazakhstan’s Air Astana followed with a $3.6 billion order for 30 MAX 8s, which it is buying for its new LCC subsidiary, FlyArystan.
The orders underscored the fact that despite the MAX’s long grounding most airline customers remain confident the type will return to service and become a viable member of the global single-aisle fleet.
SunExpress chief executive, Jens Bischof, said the carrier had a “long-standing, strong and trusted relationship with Boeing”. “Thus, we decided to convert our options into an order. We stand behind our strategic decision to phase in the 737 MAX to our fleet for all of its economic and ecological advantages, both mid and longer term,” he said.
SunExpress has “full confidence” in Boeing’s ability to resolve issues with the MAX and “deliver us a safe, reliable, and efficient aircraft”, Bischof said, but added “it goes without saying this trust required the undisputed airworthiness of the model to be granted by all relevant authorities”.
Boeing even managed some public support from Ethiopian Airlines, whose 737 MAX crashed in March and killed everyone onboard. At the Dubai show, Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, repeated his trust in Boeing and revealed the airline and the manufacturer were working together on upgrades to the grounded jet’s systems.
But without a doubt, Airbus was king of the show. Emirates Airline placed the biggest order, for 50 A350-900s worth $16 billion at list prices. Deliveries are scheduled from May 2023 to 2028 for the conversion A380 of an order.
Air Arabia signed up for 120 A320 family aircraft, including A320neo, A321neo and A321XLR, at an estimated investment of $14 billion.
Emirates also confirmed an order for 30 B787-9s, valued at $8.8 billion. As part of the agreement, the airline will exercise substitution rights and convert 30 777Xs to 30 B787-9s. Emirates is the world’s biggest 777X customer, with 126 aircraft on order. It also is the largest B777 operator in the world with 155 of the type flying today.
Deals at the show totaled $54.5 billion for OEMs and service providers. Attendance was a record, highlighting the long-term investments airlines continue to make to expand their fleets.
At the last Dubai Airshow two years ago, airline customers committed US$113.8 billion for aircraft and services. The decline over 2017 was expected given many carriers who ordered aircraft then are awaiting deliveries.
The show’s calendar also comes at a time when airlines are re-assessing their fleet mixes in a climate of geopolitical uncertainty and a sluggish global economy.
