Dubai Airshow

With the biennial Dubai Airshow looming up (Sunday, 17 – Thursday, 21 November) the aircraft industry rumour mill is bursting at the seems with Emirates thought to be in advanced talks with Boeing to buy up to 100 long haul aircraft, including the still to be officially announced 777X.  Dubai could be the launch pad for the aircraft.

Never one to miss out on a PR opportunity Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said at the oneworld signing in Doha last week (see oneworld is joined by Qatar) that whilst the airline has 80 Airbus A350s on order and 22 more Boeing 787-8s to arrive, it has taken all but five of its 27 777-300ERs committed too.

Qatar Airways will receive its first A350-900 in the second half of next year and also the first of 10 A380s currently on firm order.  When asked about the A350 schedule, Al Baker jokingly said that “they will deliver on time because they don’t have lithium-ion batteries on board”, referring to the recent grounding of the 787.  No date yet has been announced for the new Doha terminal but Qatar used the opportunity for a “oneworld” 777 to become the first aircraft to officially use the facility. www.dubaiairshow.aero

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