Dubai Airshow opens with Dh69b deals
THIS YEAR’S EVENT LARGEST SINCE LAUNCH, VICE-PRESIDENT SAYS
Defying industry challenges, the Dubai Airshow saw airlines booking almost Dh70 billion in orders on the opening day, with Emirates placing the biggest order worth $15.1 billion (Dh55.4 billion) in list prices for 40 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners.
The biennial airshow was opened by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VicePresident and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince were present.
The day saw the Ministry of Defence, too, signing Dh6.5 billion in deals, including a Dh6 billion deal with Lockheed Martin to upgrade its 80 F-16 fighters to the latest standards, along with logistics and training.
Boeing also bagged a $1.9 billion (Dh6.9 billion) order from Azerbaijan Airlines for five 787-8 Dreamliners and a commitment to purchase two large freighters, with the freighter commitment to be finalised at a later time.
“Today we opened the Dubai Airshow at Al Maktoum International. This year’s is the largest exhibition since the show launched in 1989, with 1,200 civil and military aviation companies, 260 official delegates and 72,000 aviation specialists attending,” wrote Shaikh Mohammad on Twitter following the inauguration.