Future looks bright as event breaks all records
Gulf News Report
Published: November 14, 2007, 23:27
Dubai: As the record-breaking Dubai Airshow 2007 - the biggest in the event''''s history - closes today, the future of the biennial event looks brighter than ever as major regional players outlined huge expansion plans.
Orders continued at the show - which has already broken all aerospace exhibition on-site order books with an intake in excess of $100 billion - with Airbus announcing the sale of nine A321 aircraft to the new Egyptian airline Nile Air.
"Airbus ended the 10th Dubai Airshow with major orders, re-enforcing customer confidence in its leading product range," a statement said.
During the show, Airbus received 163 firm orders valued at over $28 billion at catalogue prices, from 10 customers. Airbus also won its largest ever order in terms of value for 70 A350 XWBs and 11 A380s from Emirates.
In addition, it received 132 commitments from three customers.
"Demand for the A350 XWB was very strong with a total of 80 firm orders from two customers. In addition to the Emirates order for 70 aircraft, Airbus received a firm contract from Yemenia for 10 A350s. In addition Dubai Aero-space Enterprise Capital (DAE-Capital) committed to acquire 30 A350s, while C Jet Limited of Hong Kong became the first customer for the VIP version of the A350XWB Prestige. Total firm orders for the type now stand at 276 from 11 customers," Airbus release said.
Airbus'''' Single Aisle Family continued its success with 66 firm orders, plus commitments for an additional 101 received from nine customers, including 20 from NAS, 70 from DAE Capital, 22 from Saudi Arabian Airlines, 34 from Air Arabia, eight from Air Blue, nine from Nile Air and four from private customers. The order from Saudi Arabian Airlines was the first from the airline in 25 years.