- Dubai faces down airline rivals with $50 bln jet orders

Dubai carriers, Emirates and flyDubai, placed orders for over $50 billion worth of Boeing jets at the Dubai Airshow, signaling their commitment to the future of aviation and intensifying competition in the region. The orders include 90 Boeing 777X for Emirates and 30 Boeing 787 for flyDubai. Meanwhile, Airbus is still waiting for an order from Emirates for similar jets. The aviation and tourism industries are crucial to Dubai’s economy, and the government aims to double the size of the economy in the next decade. These orders also raise the stakes in airline competition as other countries in the region expand their fleets. However, industry officials question whether there is enough demand to accommodate all the capacity. Turkish Airlines also made headlines with talks of ordering up to 355 Airbus jets, a move seen as bold in the Gulf region. Other significant orders are expected, but they may not be announced publicly at the Dubai Airshow. Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air is still in talks to place an order for narrow-body jets, as the country aims to establish itself as a major aviation hub. The Dubai Airshow is taking place amidst the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which has affected flight bookings to the Middle East. However, the war is expected to reinforce demand for weapons rather than major arms deals at the show. Overall, the orders placed by Dubai carriers demonstrate their dominance in the region and their commitment to the future of aviation.