At the ongoing Dubai Airshow 2023, Emirates announced that it has placed an order for fifteen Airbus A350-900s. The total cost for this particular order, which increases the carrier’s order book for the said aircraft to 65, is about USD 6 billion.

The first Airbus A350 is expected to join Emirates’ fleet in August next year. With all the backlog, the airline will receive A350 deliveries through early 2028. Here’s what HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive at Emirates Airline and Group, said:

We plan to deploy our A350s to serve a range of new markets including long-haul missions of up to 15 hours flying time from Dubai. We will work closely with Airbus and Rolls-Royce to ensure our aircraft deliver the best possible operating efficiency and flying experience for our customers.

Earlier this week, Emirates closed a deal worth USD 52 billion for 95 widebody Boeing jets. The airline also inked contracts with Safran and announced a new engineering facility. It even signed a contract with Pratt & Whitney Canada for Airbus A380 APUs.

Saudia Technic, a company that provides aircraft maintenance services in various countries, has signed a memorandum of agreement with Airbus Helicopters at the ongoing Dubai Airshow 2023. It is for an authorised service centre in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to support the civil helicopters in the region.

Once developed, the new service centre will help improve response times, reduce downtimes for operators and further streamline maintenance processes. Moreover, the touchpoint expands Airbus Helicopters’ footprint in the Middle East while aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the country’s aviation strategy.

Also Read: Dubai Airshow 2023: DCAA Signs MoU With EANAN

At the Dubai Airshow 2023, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with EANAN. The latter is a UAE-based technology company specialising in transportation through advanced air mobility. Its latest agreement with the DCAA revolves around researching and developing next-gen air mobility. Delving deeper, this partnership intends to provide the formal foundation for joining forces to study and develop the regulatory framework for the city’s aviation safety and security related to uncrewed heavy cargo and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The agreement also mentions creating a dedicated area for testing various flight modes.

Through workshops and training programs about operational risk management, aviation safety and security, crewless aircraft technology, navigation, data analysis, flight operations and personnel training, DCAA and EANAN aim to help support the industry’s growth in Dubai.

Also Read: Arcosjet Places Order For Ten Lilium Jets

Ethiopia’s flag carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, and Airbus have announced that the former has signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) to buy eleven additional A350-900 widebody jets from the latter. The new agreement bumps the carrier’s backlog with the European aircraft manufacturer for the A350 to thirty-three. That count also includes four A350-1000 aircraft.

Presently, Ethiopian Airlines has a fleet of twenty Airbus A350-900s. Once the latest order is completed, the airline will become the largest A350 operator in Africa. An A350, depending on the derivative and configuration, can seat between 300 and 410 passengers and cover routes up to 9,700 nautical miles (17,964km) nonstop.

At the ongoing Dubai Airshow 2023, Ethiopian Airlines also announced a deal for up to sixty-seven jets from Boeing.

RTX’s Pratt & Whitney Canada has entered a 10-year agreement with Emirates. It is for the maintenance and support of the PW980 auxiliary power units (APUs) of the carrier’s Airbus A380 fleet. For the record, the Dubai-based airline has 116 A380 in its aircraft portfolio. The PW980 APU, the largest APU in commercial aviation, is a two-shaft gas turbine engine designed specifically for the Airbus A380 widebody airliner. Pratt & Whitney has an extensive portfolio of APUs serving military and civil/commercial aeroplane applications. Presently, Pratt & Whitney APUs power more than 7,000 aircraft worldwide.

Also Read: Emirates And Safran Sign Contracts Worth USD 1.2 Billion

Dubai-based airline Emirates has been rather busy this week. After announcing an investment towards a new engineering facility and completing agreements with Boeing for 95 new aircraft, the carrier is back with another development. It has inked contracts with USD 1.2 billion with Safran. This includes a USD 1 billion deal for the latest-gen seats for Emirates’ new fleet of Airbus A350, Boeing 777X-9, and the existing Boeing 777-300 and Airbus A380 jets.

The agreement includes Business, Premium Economy and Economy class seats for Emirates’ Airbus A350 and the Boeing 777X-9. Besides seats, Safran will also supply Galleys for both aforementioned aircraft. Furthermore, Emirates will receive the RAVE AeroConnect Ka solution from Safran Passenger Innovations. According to the airline, this new technology will uplift inflight connectivity to provide flexibility in entertainment. Also, 50 Airbus A350, 60 Airbus A380 and 50 Boeing 777X-9 will be fitted with Safran’s agnostic satcom connectivity solution. The contracts also cover the supply of wheels and carbon brakes for the Emirates A350.

Other contracts cover the maintenance, repair and overhaul parameters. For instance, Safran Landing Services will provide services for the A380’s Nose Land Gear and the aircraft’s landing systems lifecycle. Also, Emirates has inked a 10-year service agreement with Safran Aerosystems that covers repair and maintenance for Boeing 777 safety and cabin system components.

American brand Boeing has been super busy at the Dubai Airshow 2023. After confirming aircraft deals with multiple airlines, including Emirates, EgyptAir, flydubai and SunExpress, the company has bagged another. It’s from Ethiopian Airlines, for up to sixty-seven jets. The agreement says Ethiopia’s flag carrier has placed a firm order for eleven 787 Dreamliners and twenty 737 MAXs, with an opportunity for fifteen and twenty-one additional jets, respectively. The order claims the title of the largest-ever purchase of Boeing aeroplanes in African history.

Ethiopian Airlines currently operates over eighty Boeing aircraft. The new order for 737 MAX increases the airline’s backlog for the said jet type to fifty. On the other hand, the carrier already operates Africa’s largest Dreamliner fleet, consisting of 787-8s and 787-9s. The two firms have also agreed to work on cabin modification services for the airline’s existing 787 Dreamliners. Once the retrofitting process is complete, the aircraft will feature improved in-flight entertainment and new seats in all cabins, including lie-flat business-class seats from Boeing’s JV Adient Aerospace.