Dubai Air Show Thunderbolt

     Why are these men smiling?
     At the 10th Dubai Air Show over the weekend Emirates eclipsed any order at any air show since the Wright Brothers invented the airplane, took a steamship to Europe and began the first order book for a new form of travel.
     With orders for 120 A350s, 11 A380s, 12 B777s valued at book over US$34.9 billion dollars, Emirates uncorked the largest-ever aircraft order in civil aviation history.
     Here Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline and Group, and Airbus President and CEO Tom Enders are very much on the same page while apparently seeing even bigger things ahead.
     Airbus propels its A350 to certain success whilst deepening its delivery order book for A380.
     Count two aircraft created by the European manufacturer that will take wing, based on Emirates orders as both aircrafts’ biggest buyer (A380 (58), A350 (120).
     Sheikh Maktoum said:
     "In 2003, our plan was for Emirates to have 100 aircraft by 2010.
     “We have already surpassed that target.”
     Meantime Boeing that has sold B787 to almost everybody else gets a solid rebuff from EK for that airplane amidst recent concern amongst some former high-ranking Boeing people, as to whether the all composite airplane should be permitted to enter commercial service on its current, albeit now delayed, delivery schedule.
     Boeing did land a respectable dozen additional B777s to its order book as part of the landmark announcement in Dubai.
     That order by the way, will now also rank Emirates as top B777 operator in the world.
     Yet Boeing CEO Scott Carson was also in Dubai and we all know that was not so he could sample the afternoon tea at the Burj Al Arab.
     No, he was in town to sit at Akbar Al Baker's side as the Qatar Airways CEO announced that the carrier had placed orders for 92 aircraft – all Boeings – the first of which was due for delivery in two weeks, and more next month.
     The order comprised 30 firm B787 Dreamliners with an option for a further 30, to be delivered between 2010 and 2014; and 27 firm B777s with an option for an additional five. The B777 order includes seven B777-200 freighters that will start arriving in 2009, as well as six B777-200LRs and 14 B777-300ERs with deliveries beginning in a couple of weeks and running until mid-2010.
     Al Baker said the B787 would form the core of his airline's regional and medium-haul fleet from the next decade.
     Asked why Qatar had opted for A350s (of which it has 80 on order) and B787s, he replied that the A350s would not be ready until the second half of 2013.
     "That could mean December 31, 2013."
     The total order, including the 35 options, is worth $13.5bn and Al Baker was sure to point out that, with the exception of its A340-600s, Qatar Airways has always confirmed its options.
     "We are a young fleet and we won't be keeping aircraft longer than five or six years," he said.
     Yes, you read correctly – five or six years.
     When questioned further about his aircraft replacement plans, Al Baker kept mum, saying, " I don't pre-empt what is in my brain. I will keep it a surprise."
     As of next year the average age of Qatar's fleet will be three years.
     When Al Baker was asked whether he was concerned about how potential further delays to the Dreamliner would affect his mammoth expansion plans, his response was pointed:
     "Delays Boeing are having should be considered insignificant compared to the delays we have had on the A380."
     Al Baker: one. Airbus: nil.
Siobhan/Geoffrey