Boeing Expects Orders for 150 Aircraft

DUBAI, 11 November 2007 — Boeing said yesterday it was hoping to get orders for up to 150 new aircraft from the Middle East region by the end of 2007.

“We will try to finish the year with 150 orders from the region,” Boeing’s Middle East chief of commercial airplane sales Lee Monson told reporters on the eve of the Dubai Air Show, which is considered the world’s third largest air show.

The five-day airshow, which expects over 40,000 trade visitors, will start open today in Dubai. With 850 exhibitors from 50 countries — a 40 percent increase on 2005 participation — and covering more than 35,000 square meters, with more than 140 aircraft on display, Dubai Airshow 2007 has resoundingly stamped its authority on the international aviation arena and secured its mantle as the world’s third largest global aerospace event after Le Bourget in Paris and Farnborough in the UK.

Without giving further details, Boeing’s Lee Monson said an announcement for one big order for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner will take place during the week. Only a single order for 22 aircraft placed by Kuwait’s leasing company ALAFCO appears on Boeing’s order book from the region for 2007. Boeing and its European arch rival Airbus are set to go head-to-head in a bruising battle to win new business at the Dubai Air Show, setting their sights on the booming Gulf airline sector.

Meanwhile, Bombardier Aerospace said in a statement that it will arrive with a selection of corporate jets and its Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen regional jet. Also on display will be Bombardier’s new, full-scale mock-up of the next generation CSeries airliner, which was first revealed in June.

The new Bombardier Learjet 60 XR jet will make its international debut, joining the super-midsize Bombardier Challenger 300, the wide-body Bombardier Challenger 605.

“The overall Middle East regional airline fleet of aircraft is expected to grow by 150 percent over the next 20 years, while we see the overall African fleet growing by 40 percent in the 20 to 149 seat fleet,” said James Dailly, senior vice president, sales, Bombardier Regional Aircraft. “We are the only manufacturer that can offer families of regional jets ranging from 40 to 100 seats and turboprops ranging from 37 to 90 seats.

While explaining about Prestige Jet’s participation, the new, fast-growing, private aviation company operating out of Abu Dhabi International Airport, its Chairman Ghaith Ben Hamil Al- Ghaith said that it will be showcasing its full range of services from private charters to aircraft management services. “Several significant announcements concerning strategic partnerships and aircraft will also be made during the show,” he added.

Al-Ghaith said the growth in private air charter travel across the Middle East is being fuelled by a new global business environment, where more and more people, from businessmen to government leaders across the Middle East are demanding faster and more reliable modes of transport.

“This year we have some 130 newcomers from 24 countries — which accounts for more than 10 percent of the overall exhibitor profile,” explained Alison Weller, director — Aerospace, F&E.