On Dubai Airshow 2023’s first day, airlines including Emirates, flydubai, and SunExpress announced orders for a total of about 220 mostly Boeing aircraft. While not unexpectedly not as many new orders were announced on the second day, there were still a couple of notable ones, especially from Ethiopian Airlines and Egyptair.
Continue reading to learn more about the aircraft orders and other noteworthy developments announced on the second day of the airshow.
Ethiopian Airlines Orders 31 Boeing Jets with Options for 36 More
The largest order of the second day of Dubai Airshow 2023 came from Ethiopian Airlines. The airline announced an order for 11 Boeing 787-9s and 20 737-8s for a total of 31 firm orders. Additionally, the airline also secured the option to purchase further 36 aircraft including 15 787-9s and 21 737-8s.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said the order will “enable us to modernize and increase our fleet in support of Ethiopian Airlines’ growth plan and our Vision 2035 Strategy.” As such, while some of the aircraft will replace existing aircraft in the airline’s fleet, some will also be used for expanding capacity. The airline will also work with Boeing on refurbishing the cabins of its existing Dreamliners.
Ethiopian Airlines was the first African airline to use the 787 and currently operates 29 airframes including 19 of the shorter 787-8 and 10 of the longer 787-9. Its diverse widebody fleet also includes Boeing 767 and 777 aircraft, as well as Airbus A350s.
On the narrowbody side, the airline operates Boeing 737s including the 737-700, 737-800, and the 737-8, as well as turboprop Dash 8 Q400s. This order shows Ethiopian Airlines’ continued (or renewed) trust in Boeing and the 737 MAX in spite of the controversies that surrounded the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302.
Egyptair Orders 10 Airbus A350s
Making the headlines two days in a row was Egyptair. While on the first day, the airline announced that it would be leasing 18 Boeing 737-8s, on the second day it made public an order for 10 Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
Egyptair’s widebody fleet currently consists of Boeing 777-300ERs, 787-9s, and aging Airbus A330-200s and A330-300s. With this new order, Egyptair showed its continued commitment to keeping a mixed Boeing and Airbus fleet of widebody aircraft.
The same is the case with narrowbody aircraft. While the airline currently operates the latest-generation A220s and A320neo family aircraft from Airbus it only operates the previous generation 737-800s from Boeing, yesterday’s 737-8 order will reduce the average age of Egyptair’s narrowbody Boeing fleet.
SCAT Airlines Reveals an Order for 7 Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft
Going back to Boeing, Kazakhstan’s largest airline by fleet size, SCAT Airlines revealed an order for Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Previously listed as unidentified in Boeing’s order book, the airline has seven 737-8s on order. These are in addition to the three 737-8s and five 737-9s that the airline already operates.
In addition to the eight Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, SCAT Airlines also operates 737 Classics (“-300” and “-500”), 737 NGs (“-700” and “-800”), 757s, a 767, and Bombardier CRJ-200s. With over 30 aircraft, SCAT operates both domestic flights, as well as flights from Kazakhstan to countries in the region and beyond.
Turboprop Lessor Abelo Orders 10 ATRs with Options for More
While, naturally, the vast majority of the orders over the last two days were for Airbus and Boeing aircraft, the European turboprop manufacturer ATR will not go home empty-handed either. On the airshow’s second day, Irish turboprop lessor Abelo signed an order for 10 ATR 72-600s with options for 10 more.
This order brings the total of ATR aircraft ordered by Abelo up to 30 including 10 ATR 72-600s and 10 ATR 42-600Ss ordered in 2022. The latter is the short take-off and landing (STOL) version of the ATR 42.
The newly ordered ATR 72-600s are expected to be delivered to the lessor between 2026 and 2028. Abelo will receive its first aircraft from the 2022 order before the end of 2023, though. The aircraft will be the lessor’s first brand-new ATR airframe.
Oman Air Receives a 737-800BCF and Emirates Orders Seats
While the above four are the news of the second day of Dubai Airshow 2023, there are some other developments worth noting including:
- Oman Air taking delivery of a Boeing 737-800BCF: Boeing and Oman Air announced that the airline has ordered and taken delivery of a Boeing 737-800BCF. The conversion was done by Shandong Aircraft Engineering (STAECO). and the aircraft is the first dedicated cargo aircraft in Oman Air’s fleet.
- Emirates signing a $1.2 billion deal with Safran: As part of the deal, Safran will be manufacturing economy, premium economy, and business class seats for Emirates’ upcoming A350s and 777Xs, as well as existing 777-300ERs. Additionally, the company will be providing the airline with aircraft parts, onboard connectivity, and entertainment-related products and services.
Summary
Not unexpectedly, Dubai Airshow’s second day didn’t see as many orders as the first day. That said, there were still some orders that will have a significant impact on passenger comfort and airline route networks in the decades to come. The five orders revealed on the second day included:
- 11 Boeing 787-9s and 20 737-8s for Ethiopian Airlines (plus 15 and 21 options)
- 10 Airbus A350-900s for Egyptair
- 10 ATR 72-600s for Abelo
- 7 Boeing 737-8 for SCAT Airlines
- 1 Boeing 737-800BCF for Oman Air
Additionally, Emirates and Safran announced a large deal for mainly economy, premium economy, and business class seats for some of the airline’s upcoming and existing aircraft.
