The UAE’s four fast growing airlines are expected to announce new aircraft orders worth a total of between $75 and $90 billion at the Dubai Air Show opening next month. The Dubai-based Emirates airline, which is said to be in talks with Boeing for its 777X new-generation aircraft, and also with Airbus for ordering more of its A380, will account for bulk of the orders with an estimated value of above $50 billion.
Etihad Airways is also in negotiations with the US aircraft manufacturer for a multibillion-dollar order for at least 25 of the revamped 777X aircraft that is on track to make its debut in 2020 for its launch customer Lufthansa, which has confirmed orders for 34 of these min-jumbos for a value of $11 billion. The Abu Dhabi-based airline is also expected to place an order for 30 more Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
Dubai’s first low-cost carrier flydubai is also likely to execute an order for 50 Boeing 737s Max worth approximately $5 billion to ensure it augments its growth with adequate capacity to meet demand needs. Moreover, Air Arabia, the region’s fastest growing budget airline, is also in talks for ordering $4 billion worth of A320 aircraft.