It seems that with the Dubai Air Show here, multiple orders and announcements have made it out of Dubai World Central.
So welcome to the Dubai Air Show Digest.
For those new to an Airshow Digest by Economy Class and Beyond, this is a quick look at announcements in Commercial Aviation at the Air show. We go by Airframer first, then anything else that caught my eye. We’ll include quotes and maybe some commentary. This goes out around 20:00GMT.
Onto the highlights from Day 1.
Airbus
Not a lot from the Airbus Chalet (as we don’t cover rotorcraft here), so here’s something they released Friday.
Air China Cargo to take Airbus A350Fs
Pre-announced before the show, Air China Cargo is to add six Airbus A350Fs to its fleet. More details here.
Boeing
Emirates to add a further 65 Boeing 777X aircraft, pushes for a lengthened version.
Covered in our leader this morning, Emirates is expanding its Boeing 777X backlog by 65 aircraft, as a commitment to the type, but also to pressure Boeing to study and launch a 777-10 variant.
We’ll have to see if that pressure works for Emirates, with the 777X project running way behind schedule.
Ethiopian Airlines signs for further Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft
Ethiopian Airlines announced they have committed to purchase 11 additional 737 MAX jets. The agreement for 11 737-8, signed at the Dubai Airshow, will enable Ethiopian Airlines to grow its regional and international networks and expand its Addis Ababa hub.
The fleet is used on routes across Africa, the Middle East, India, and Southern Europe, where quick turnarounds and frequency are essential to meet passenger demand.
In Quotes
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr Mesfin Tasew said:
“We are thrilled to be announcing our agreement with Boeing for additional11 737-8 airplanes today during Dubai Airshow,”
“The order will support our growth plans that we have set as part of our vision and strategy. We are happy that our partnership with Boeing continues to grow over the years and we look forward to flying Boeing airplanes for years to come and that we will continue to serve our customers by bringing them high performance airplanes with passenger comfort.”
Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing, said:
“Ethiopian Airlines’ commitment to expand its 737 MAX fleet underscores its leadership in Africa. Our new agreement also strengthens our nearly 80-year partnership with the airline and region,” said
“We are proud that our efficient and versatile airplanes will continue to play a pivotal role in Ethiopian Airlines’ growth as they further connect the African continent and the world.”
Air Senegal Commits to First Boeing 737 MAX Order
Air Senegal announced today that the West African carrier has committed to order nine 737 MAX. When finalised, the 737 MAX order will be the airline’s largest-ever fleet purchase – and first Boeing airplane order since 2004 – as it looks to expand service regionally and internationally.
With the introduction of the 737-8 to its single-aisle fleet, Air Senegal will expand its network in Europe and launch new routes from Dakar to the Middle East and the Americas. The 737 MAX will also enable Air Senegal to serve secondary European cities, allowing fliers to save time by bypassing major hubs.
In Quotes
Air Sénégal’s Chief Executive Officer, Tidiane Ndiaye, said:
“This acquisition marks a major milestone for Air Sénégal.”
“This order is part of Air Sénégal’s strategy to strengthen and modernize its fleet in order to support the expansion of its regional and intercontinental network and reinforce Dakar’s position as a leading aviation hub in West Africa.”
Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing, added:
“We look forward to welcoming Air Senegal to the 737 MAX family as they leverage the versatility, reliability and advanced technology of the 737-8 to support their growth ambitions,”
“We are committed to sustainable development of air travel in the region and will partner with Air Senegal as they enhance their fleet and passenger experience.”
Embraer
We’re off to Embraer next, which has scored two orders today.
Air Côte d’Ivoire signs for four E175, with eight purchase rights
Air Côte d’Ivoire, the national carrier of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, has signed a firm order for four Embraer E175 aircraft, with eight additional purchase rights, as part of its fleet modernisation and regional expansion strategy.
The aircraft will be configured with 76 seats in a two-class layout – 12 in Business Class and 64 in Economy. They will deploy the E175s on domestic and regional routes and gradually replace their turboprop fleet.
The first E175 jet delivery is scheduled for the first half of 2027, and the deal will be added to Embraer’s Q4 2025 backlog.
In Quotes
Laurent Loukou, Chief Executive Officer of Air Côte d’Ivoire said:
“This order marks a significant step in our fleet development strategy,”
“The Embraer E175 is perfectly suited to our domestic and regional ambitions. Its capacity is perfectly adapted to the size of African markets. Its performance and comfort will allow us to offer a superior passenger experience, while supporting our growth and the development of our Abidjan hub. It also enables us to gradually phase out our turboprop fleet and operate more efficiently across our network while improving our economic performance with better operating costs and profitability.”
Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, commented:
“We are honoured to welcome Air Côte d’Ivoire to the E-Jet family. Embraer is firmly established as the market leader in the up to 150 seat segment in Africa, the E175 is a proven performer on the continent and its capabilities are a perfect match for the airline’s vision. This aircraft will bring immediate benefits in terms of connectivity, efficiency, and passenger satisfaction, and we look forward to supporting Air Côte d’Ivoire as they expand their network and strengthen their position in the region.”
Helvetic Airways signs for further Embraer Aircraft – up to eight aircraft
The Swiss Airline has placed a new firm order for three Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, with five additional purchase rights.
The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery at the end of 2026. Each E195-E2 will be configured with 134 seats in a single-class layout, featuring Recaro seating, offering passengers comfort and efficiency.
This latest order will enable Helvetic Airways to grow its E2 fleet from 12 to up to 20 aircraft in the coming years, strengthening its position as a leading European operator of Embraer’s advanced E-Jet family.
Helvetic Airways curretly operates 8 E190-E2, 4 E195-E2s, 4 E190 and 4 E195s
In Quotes
Tobias Pogorevc, CEO of Helvetic Airways, said
“We are proud to deepen our partnership with Embraer through this further order for the E2,”
“The E195-E2 is the ideal aircraft for our network, offering exceptional fuel efficiency, low noise emissions, and a high-quality passenger experience. This order supports our modern fleet strategy and sustainability goals while maintaining operational flexibility across Europe. It will also enhance our ability to serve various European customers through our ACMI operations.”
Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, added:
“Helvetic Airways continues to demonstrate the versatility and value of the E2 family in European operations. Their decision to expand the E195-E2 fleet is a strong endorsement of the aircraft’s performance, economics, and environmental credentials. We’re proud to support Helvetic’s growth and their role in delivering reliable, efficient service in their main area of wet-lease operations.”
IFE+C
We’ve got some headlines with SpaceX’s Starlink having two big announcements:
Qatar Airways completes 100 Starlink installs
Qatar Airways has passed the 100 mark on its fleet installs, with its “owned” Boeing 777s and Airbus A350s seeing more Starlink connectivity. We’ve got the pre-show release here.
Emirates announces Starlink connectivity.
Emirates is going all-in with Starlink. Here’s the infographic. I’ll have more from the announcement later.
That’s it for Day 1
To be honest, Economy Class and Beyond tends to stick to one or two headlines and call it quits with the Dubai Air Show. But it seems manufacturers are going to make it a little harder this year for your writer.
If we have further headlines tomorrow, we’ll have another digest in the evening.
But this is shaping up to be Boeing’s airshow at the moment… unless Airbus can throw a wrench in…
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