DUBAI, 14 November 2007 — Yemania, Pakistan’s Airblue, Oman Air, Dubai-owned DAE, Abu Dhabi based Mubadala, Qatar Airways and Midex Airlines made major announcements yesterday at the ongoing Dubai Air Show
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) said it had signed deals to buy and lease $1.5 billion worth of aircraft from General Electric unit GE Commercial Aviation and Emirates airline.
DAE, which signed initial agreements on Monday to order as many as 200 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus would buy 20 aircraft from GE Commercial in a $1 billion deal, it said in a statement at the Dubai Air Show.
“DAE Capital has become an aircraft leasing and finance provider that has made the world sit up and take note. We are tangibly fulfilling our aim of rapidly build a world-class global aerospace, manufacturing and services enterprise,” said Bob Johnson, DAE Group CEO.
In a statement of its intent to build a world-class aircraft leasing business, DAE Capital has agreed deals at the Dubai Air Show totaling almost $29 billion. It had signed letter of intent with Airbus worth $13.5 billion for up to 100 aircraft and another LOI for 100 aircraft valued at approximately $13.7 billion with Boeing Commercial Airplane Company.
In related developments, Pakistan’s fastest-growing airline Airblue has signed a firm contract for eight Airbus A320s, taking their total order for the A320 Family to 14.
The aircraft will be configured to seat 157 passengers in two classes. Airblue operates on domestic and regional routes to Dubai in addition to long haul services to the United Kingdom, and hopes to expand routes to additional international destinations.
Airbus officials said in a statement that Yemen’s officials carrier Yemenia has signed a firm contract for ten Airbus A350 XWB aircraft as part of its long haul fleet modernization program. Yemenia’s A350 XWBs will be configured in a comfortable two-class configuration with seating for 18 passengers in First Class and 265 in Economy.
Oman Air has signed a firm contract with Airbus for five new aircraft from the A330 Family. The order is for three A330-300s and two A330-200s. No engine choice has been made.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies, wholly-owned by Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala), has entered into a $500 million five-year accord with Etihad Airways. Under the contract, Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies will provide an extensive range of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services to the award-winning carrier.
Midex Airlines, the first cargo airline of the United Arab Emirates, also announced that it has signed a multi-million dollar deal to buy one Boeing B747-200F freighter. The new aircraft is a nose-loader Boeing B747-200F freighter. Royal Jet, the international luxury executive flight services company, won the prestigious Business Jet Provider of the Year award at Monday night’s Aviation Business Awards 2007 ceremony, held at the Park Hyatt Hotel, Dubai.
Royal Jet’s President & CEO, Shane O’Hare picked up the award at the ceremony which was staged by ITP Business Publishing, publishers of Aviation Business magazine.