Dh14bn Air Arabia order; Emirates buys 50 planes

The Etihad-Boeing Greenliner

DUBAI 19 November 2019: Air Arabia, the Sharjah-based low-cost carrier, yesterday set another milestone with one of the region’s largest single-aisle aircraft orders of the 120 Airbus A320 family aircraft, which was announced during the Dubai Airshow 2019.

The signing ceremony was attended by Air Arabia’s Chairman, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Thani, and CEO of Airbus, Guillaume Faury.

The deal, whose total book value exceeds US$14 billion (list price), will more than triple Air Arabia’s current fleet strength, as well as support the carrier’s global network expansion strategy. The new orders are for 73 A320neo, 27 A321neo and 20 A321XLR aircraft, all belonging to the A320 family. Delivery is scheduled to commence in 2024 and the Sharjah-based airline has yet to specify the engines to be installed on its new fleet.

Air Arabia’s current fleet consists of 54 Airbus A320 & A321neo-LR. While the A320neo builds on the A320 product line’s position as the world’s most advanced and fuel-efficient single-aisle aircraft family, the A321neo variant provides extended range for the A320neo family’s longest fuselage version.

Air Arabia is the first Middle Eastern airline to operate the A321neo-LR with three aircraft currently in service and another three scheduled to join the fleet in 2020.

The A321XLR further extends the single-aisle jetliner offer with service entry planned in 2023, making Air Arabia, again, one of the first owners of the aircraft.

Emirates buys 50 Airbus planes

Airbus and Emirates Airline signed a purchase agreement for 50 A350-900s, the newest generation wide-bodied aircraft by Airbus. The value was not revealed.

The order was signed at the Dubai Airshow 2019 by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Guillaume Faury, Chief Executive Officer of Airbus.

Sheikh Ahmed said, “Today, we are pleased to sign a firm order for 50 A350 XWBs, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. This follows a thorough review of various aircraft options and our fleet plans. It is the long-standing strategy of Emirates to invest in modern and efficient aircraft, and we are confident in the performance of the A350 XWB.”

Sheikh Ahmed added, “Complementing our A380s and 777s, the A350s will give us added operational flexibility in terms of capacity, range and deployment. In effect, we are strengthening our business model to provide efficient and comfortable air transport services to, and through, our Dubai hub. This deal reflects our confidence in the future of the UAE’s aviation sector, and is a strong affirmation of Dubai’s strategy to become a global nexus connected to cities, communities and economies via a world-class and modern aviation sector.”

The A350 XWB offers unrivalled operational flexibility and efficiency for all market segments, up to ultra-long-haul (17,900km). Its Airspace by Airbus cabin is the quietest of any twin-aisle aircraft and offers passengers and crews the most modern in-flight flying experience.

The aircraft features the latest aerodynamic design, a carbon fibre fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. Together, these latest technologies result in 25 percent lower operating costs, as well as a 25 percent reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions compared with previous-generation competing aircraft, demonstrating the commitment of Airbus to minimise its environmental impact, while remaining at the cutting edge of air travel.

Etihad Greenliner

ABU DHABI: Etihad Airways and Boeing announced a first-of-its-kind ‘eco partnership’, in which a specially-themed Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be used to test products, procedures and initiatives designed to reduce aircraft carbon emissions.

The ‘Etihad Greenliner’, to be introduced early next year, will be used by both companies to explore and assess environmental sustainability initiatives while the aircraft operates scheduled services across the airline’s network. Other stakeholders, from equipment suppliers to airspace regulators, will be invited to join the companies in advancing and testing efficiency measures on or with the ‘Greenliner’.

Etihad also announced that it would operate a Boeing 787 ‘eco flight’ from Abu Dhabi to Brussels during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in January 2020, incorporating a wide range of environment-focused initiatives.

The blended green-blue design for the themed aircraft was unveiled at the Dubai Airshow 2019 by Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Etihad Aviation Group, and Stanley Deal, Executive Vice President of The Boeing Company, and President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Douglas said, “The rapid growth of air travel has increased aircraft carbon emissions, and it is the responsibility the aviation industry to reverse this trend. The ‘Etihad Greenliner’ will highlight the shared commitment of Etihad and Boeing to advance sustainable practices in aviation.

“The graduated blue tones of this design represent the importance of water in Arabic life and culture and symbolise the ‘blue sky’ thinking needed to deliver practical, incremental initiatives to progressively lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions.”

Deals worth Dh7.6 billion

The UAE’s Ministry of Defence signed 11 deals at a total value of Dh7,622,312,234 on the first day of Dubai Air Show 2019, a senior official said on Monday.

The deals involved enhancement, maintenance and purchase of parts and ammunition for the UAE’s Armed Forces and Air Force, Major-General Pilot Abdullah Al Sayyed Al Hashemi, Assistant Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Defence for Support Services, said on the second day of Dubai Airshow 2019 which is now going at the Dubai World Central.

-Here is the list of the signed agreements released by the GHQ of the UAE Armed Forces: -A contract with GAL for maintenance of helicopter for joint flight at AED3,500,000,000 -A contract with Thales International Middle East to provide maintenance and life extension services for Mirage 2000 aircraft containers for a value of AED232,638,000.

– A contract with International Golden Group to purchase parachute system for Parachute Jump training for a value of AED24,800,000.

-A contract with Boeing Company to provide technical support services and training on aircraft simulators for a value of AED69,730,000.

-A contract with AEQ Alianca Eletroquímica to purchase ammunition for Air Forces and Air Defense for a value of AED1,636,400,000.

-A contract with MBDA France to provide technical support and supply spare parts for aircraft weapon systems for a value of AED93,380,000 -A contract with Dassault Aviation to upgrade Mirage aircraft for a value of AED1,798,127,560 -A contract with Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investment Company to supply spare parts for reconnaissance aircraft for the Armed Forces for a value of AED119,990,160.

-A contract with Lockheed Martin Overseas to purchase and install equipment on F16 aircraft for Air Forces and Air Defense for a value of AED76,011,313.

-A contract with Denel Dynamics for technical support for the Armed Forces for a value of AED25,690,000 -A contract with Beltech Export to purchase radars for the Armed Forces for a value of AED45,545,200