Dubai Airshow has kicked off with whopping plane orders worth over $US100 billion ($A107.53 billion) for Boeing and Airbus from Gulf carriers, mostly clinched by the US aircraft manufacturer.
The biennial show got off to a bright start on Sunday for Boeing’s 777X – a long-range, wide-bodied airliner that features lower fuel consumption engines and composite wings.
It is scheduled to be ready in 2020.
Etihad Airways began the coveted show with a $US25.2-billion order for Boeing planes, including 25 777Xs and one 777-200 freighter.
The deal also included an order for 30 units of 787 Dreamliners, making the fast-growing carrier the largest single customer of the medium-body plane.
The Abu Dhabi carrier also announced it was taking an option to purchase a further 26 planes from Boeing.
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“Today is an important day in the history of Etihad,” said its chief executive James Hogan.
Emirates Airline followed shortly afterwards by placing orders with both the rival US and European manufacturers, in twin deals valued at $US99 billion, 80 per cent of which were destined to Boeing’s coffers.
No details were given on the figure that includes the engines.
The Dubai-based airline ordered 150 Boeing 777X planes, including 35 777-8Xs and 115 units of the 777-9X.
The Middle East’s largest carrier also boosted Airbus’ sales book with an order for 50 A380 superjumbos, in the first sale of the double-decker this year.
The order cements Emirates’ status as the single largest operator of the long-haul airliner, its chief Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum said.
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“Emirates has understood from the start the A380’s advantages in terms of efficiency, economics and passenger comfort,” Fabrice Bregier, Airbus chief and president, told the signing ceremony.
Airbus has been struggling to sell its A380 superjumbo.
Sales of the world’s largest commercial aircraft suffered in 2012 after hairline cracks were discovered on A380 wings. Just nine were sold last year, down from an initial order of 30.
Emirates also announced a commitment by flydubai, its budget sister company, to buy up to 100 Boeing single-aisled 737 MAX.
Qatar Airways also chipped by signing a letter of intent to buy 50 of Boeing’s 777Xs valued at $US19 billion.
The Doha-based airline said it had also ordered five A330 freighters from Airbus, which are valued at about $US1 billion according to list prices.
The order was accompanied by an option to add eight airliners, which would put the overall price of the deal at $US2.8 billion, chief executive Akbar Al-Baker said.
The Qatar Airways chief praised Boeing’s 777 long-haul workhorse as he made a surprise appearance at the joint Emirates-Boeing briefing.
The 777 has been a best-seller since it was launched in the 1990, with 1473 units sold by November 12.
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