Day two at the Dubai Airshow 2023 saw a fresh flurry of orders with Boeing and Airbus both inking deals with airlines seeking to grow their fleets.
Despite a slower start for the European planemaker, Airbus secured an order from EgyptAir for 10 A350-900s.
The aircraft will help the airline reduce emissions with 25% less fuel burn and improve passenger comfort thanks to wide seats, high ceilings and ambient lighting.
“EgyptAir is a key partner of Airbus in the Middle East and Africa. We take immense pride in this partnership aimed at furthering the aviation industry. Our focus lies in the enhancement of our fleet to embrace some of the most contemporary aircraft available,” said EgyptAir chairman and CEO Yehia Zakaria.
Dubai Airshow deals
Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines announced an order for seven Boeing 737 MAX-8 aeroplanes. The latest order will nearly double its 737 fleet as the airline looks to open new routes to European destinations.
Elsewhere, Boeing and Zero Petroleum signed an agreement to work together to advance sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). The companies will jointly establish a testing programme at the University of Sheffield’s Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) and its SAF research facility in the UK.
“SAF is our industry’s biggest lever in reducing emissions today and into the future, but we need more of it now to enable those reductions,” said Sheila Remes, Boeing vice president of environmental sustainability. “Working with innovators around the world such as Zero is crucial as we collaborate to develop new, sustainable pathways to produce and scale-up SAF.”
MRO and engineering
Emirates has unveiled plans to build a $950m engineering facility at Dubai World Central.
The 1,000,000 sqm complex will support the airline’s aircraft fleet and operating requirements into the 2040s and be a centre of excellence for commercial aviation engineering services in the Middle East.
The new engineering facility will be equipped to handle routine aircraft checks to bespoke paint jobs, light to heavy maintenance programmes, engine repair and testing, to full cabin interior fit-outs and aircraft conversions.
Within the MRO sector, EgyptAir Maintenance and Engineering Co signed a five-year agreement with Honeywell for flat-rate component repair services for the entirety of the 80-plus A320, A330, B737 and B777 Egyptair fleet.
Under the agreement, Honeywell sites will repair key existing components and aircraft systems, including environmental controls, avionics and safety systems to keep Egyptair’s fleet well maintained.
Flydubai and CFM International also used the Dubai Airshow to sign a services agreement for 222 LEAP-1B engines in the airline’s Boeing 737-8 and 737-9 fleet.
Gaël Méheust, president and CEO of CFM International, said: “This agreement with flydubai will enable continued growth for the airline as it expands on our longstanding partnership. With the more fuel-efficient LEAP engine under wing, flydubai will be able to continue to benefit from the reduced emissions across its young and efficient fleet.”
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