The three major Gulf carriers have all made major aircraft orders at the Dubai Air Show.
Emirates, Etihad and Qatar announced the orders at the show on Sunday (November 17) while no-frills carrier Fly Dubai also unveiled a major aircraft deal.
Emirates has placed orders worth a total of $99 billion with Airbus and Boeing. It includes 50 of the forthcoming A350 (Airbus’ rival to the B777X and B787) plus 36 of a newer A320 version. It is also buying 25 B777Xs plus an additional 30 B787 Dreamliners.
Meanwhile Abu Dhabi’s Etihad is spending around $50 billion on new Airbus and Boeing passenger aircraft.
The order comprises 50 of the forthcoming A350s plus 36 of a newer A320 version. It is also buying 25 B777Xs plus an additional 30 B787s.
James Hogan, Etihad’s CEO, said: “We are helping to establish Abu Dhabi as one of the world’s great aviation hubs, offering connections to cities on every continent. This order will provide us with the capacity to continue with those ambitious aspirations.”
Qatar Airways has also ordered 51 B777Xs but the value of the deal is currently unknown.
Finally Fly Dubai has agreed a deal with Boeing for more than 100 short-haul B737s in a deal valued at $11 billion.