Third day orders at Dubai Airshow top US$ 1.9 billion

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•  Oman Air orders five Embraer 175 aircraft 


• Total Order Book Climbs To US $8.3 Billion 

 
Aircraft orders during the third day of the Dubai Airshow, the 11^th and largest in the biennial series, topped US$ 1.9 billion in flurry of civil aviation deals.
 
Leading the way was French airline operator Air Austral which ordered two Airbus A380s worth US$1 billion to be deployed on its high density route to Paris.
 
Oman Air, the flag carrier for the Sultanate of Oman, quickly followed, placing an order, valued at US $177 million, with Brazilian plane maker Embraer for five of its mid-range, single-aisle E175 aircraft.
 
 “There could not be a better place than the airshow in our own region to make this significant announcement,” said Peter Hill, CEO, Oman Air.
 
Four of the 175s will be operated by Oman Air and one by the Royal Omani Police, with delivery starting in 2011. Hill said Oman Air is developing four domestic airports, which will come online between 2012 and 2013 and the 175s will be used to bolster the Sultanate’s domestic market.
 
US plane-maker Boeing and Air Algerie were next to make the headlines with a deal, worth US $500 million, for seven next-generation 737-800s. The order grows
Air Algerie’s next-generation 737 fleet to 22 aircraft.
 
Then it was the turn of European consortium Airbus to confirm a US $250 million book price order for one A330-200 and one Airbus A320 from Nepal Airlines. The new aircraft will be deployed on international services to Japan and for the first time directly connect Nepal to Europe.
 
After the plane-makers had set the agenda, there came a support services deal with  
Gulf Jet, a UAE-based private airline, announcing an $8 million-plus strategic partnership deal to supply Dubai’s JetEx with various flight services.
 
The third day of the five-day Dubai Airshow, which continues at Airport Expo Dubai until November 19, proved to be the busiest yet in terms of announcements and attending delegations. The latest deals brings the total order book for the show to more than US $8.3 billion with organisers, F&E Aerospace anticipating more to come.
 
“We are aware of a number of significant negotiations taking place, particularly within the military sector and has been told further announcements could well be made,” said Alison Weller, Aerospace Director, F&E Aerospace.
 
Touring the show, which features 890 exhibitors from 47 countries and 130 aircraft on its static park display, HRH Prince Feisal Bin Hussein, Special Assistant to Jordan’s Joint Chief of Staff confirmed he was involved with talks of “an undisclosed military nature.”
 
“I am here for three days to progress various discussions I have been charged with and it has been most useful having the companies here at the show,” he said.
 
Tuesday’s rush of deals brings the total order book for this year’s Dubai Airshow to more than US$ 8.3 billion with two days still to go and Airbus at least promising more announcements.

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