13th Dubai Airshow Books Big jet Orders.

[Doug Robertson]

Britain's Red Arrows aerobatic team performed over the Dubai Airshow, which started yeserday but the big news was the plethora of new jet orders inked by various Middle East airlines at the 13th Dubai Airshow.

Boeing announced orders for 342 aircraft valued at $100 billion so far on the first day of the show. Dubai-based high-end Emirates Airline ordered 150 Boeing new B777X jets worth $55.6 billion. Qatar Airways ordered 50 B777X jets. Abu Dabai's Etihad Airways ordered 450 B777X jets and 30 B787 Dreamliners. UAE's budget Air Arabia and FlyDubai airlines have expanded their operations. FlyDubai ordered 100 B737 Max8 jets and during this year launched 16 new locations, including Russia and Moldavia.

Boeing had estimated the Middle East could be a $550 billion market for new planes, expecting airlines in the region to require more than 2,600 planes over the next 20 years. Its new B787 and 777X aircraft would account for over half of sales in the region, with single-aisle airplanes like the B737 being 47% of new orders expected.

Airbus got a 50 jet order for its A380 superjumbo, the first order of this year for the double-decker.

American engine builder General Electric inked orders with Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways for 450 new GE9X engines for use in the B777X, amounting so far up to $26 billion worth of high-thrust jet engines and services.

The Middle East is a good stopover hub for airlines flying from London or Paris to Sydney, for example, with operational cost savings and many foreign workers fly back to the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Airlines with a Middle East stop can carry less fuel per plane and translate that to more paying passengers. This fast growing region is taking new airplane orders at the expense of orders elsewhere-especially from Europe and Asia. The Dubai Airshow runs through this Thursday, the 21st of November.

[Doug Robertson]

It turns out that the two biggest Middle East airlines cooperated on the buys of Boeing B777Xs, which is a re-winged version, gaining a better joint price per airplane. Qatar Airways Ltd. and Dubai-based Emirates Airline shared a joint negotiation leading to the buy signing ceremony, putting rivalries aside. Emirate's order was for 150 B777Xs with an option for 50 more, and Qatar Airways Ltd. purchased 50 B777Xs for $19 billion. Both airlines operate earlier versions of the B777, of which there are many, with Emirates operating extended range version and ultra-range B777 version. Abu Dabai's Etihad Airways also operates B777s, including an extended range version.

The Middle East region seems to have unrivaled airliner buying power, with 86% of Boeing's backlog for the new B777 now from Gulf carriers.

Almost half of the bookings for the Airbus A380 superjumbo were by Emirates in a record deal.

[Chris Hall]

Etihad Airways has ordered 50 A350 XWB, 36 A320neo and one A330-200F aircraft at the Dubai Airshow