AIRBUS MAKES ITS MARK ON DAY 3 OF DUBAI AIRSHOW

AIRBUS MAKES ITS MARK ON DAY 3 OF DUBAI AIRSHOW

Dubai, UAE. 15 November 2011 – The latter part of the third day of the Dubai Airshow saw the order book rev up to US$55.4 billion after some tough negotiations earlier in the day, with the Airbus A320neo the big winner.

Florida-based Spirit Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 75 Airbus A320 family jets – 45 A320neo (new engine option) and 30 A320 aircraft. The MoU should be converted into a firm order by the end of the year. The deal is valued at US$7 billion.

John Leahy, Airbus COO, Customers, said: “The unrivalled economics of these aircraft convinced Spirit to go all-Airbus and that decision has clearly paid off since for the airline.”

Qatar Airways, resolving its earlier differences with Airbus, signed an order for 50 A320neo aircraft and five A380 double-decker aircraft, with a total list price of US$6.4 billion. The Doha-based carrier, which has taken options on 30 additional A320neos, plus three additional A380s, will be the A320neo launch customer.

“The A320neo promises to be a great aircraft which is why we have chosen it to form the backbone of our future single aisle expansion,” said Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways.

Boeing’s flight services unit Jeppesen announced a new contract agreement with Emirates Aviation College. The deal will provide Jeppesen’s ‘ab initio’ pilot training courses to the Dubai-based institute.
"It is a strategic collaboration between Emirates Aviation College and Jeppesen to offer the region's first of its kind JAA ab initio pilot training programme,” said Dr Ahmad Al Ali, Senior Vice President Emirates Aviation College.

The Dubai Airshow order book earlier on Day 3 topped US$42 billion, a mix of aircraft orders, maintenance deals and training agreements.

Alison Weller, Managing Director of airshow organiser F&E Aerospace, said: “This year’s Dubai Airshow is certainly a successful one for Airbus, with orders for its new A320neo, bringing our order book total to $55.4 billion. Let’s see what’s in store for the next two days!”

The Dubai Airshow is organised under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and in co-operation with Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Airports and the UAE Armed Forces.

Photo caption: Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways and John Leahy, Airbus COO, Customers, sign the A320neo deal.

About F&E Aerospace
F&E Aerospace is a division of F&E, one of the most influential names in the aerospace industry's events sector, and which launched the very first Dubai Airshow in 1989, in conjunction with Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Airports and the UAE Armed Forces.
Covering all aerospace-related events in the F&E portfolio, F&E Aerospace has a long-standing relationship with the global aerospace industry, an in-depth knowledge of the market and a hard-earned reputation for delivering event excellence. F&E Aerospace maintains offices in Dubai and London.

Dubai Airshow, the 12th show in the series, takes place from 13 to 17 November 2011 at Dubai’s Airport Expo. The 2009 edition of the biennial show drew 890 exhibitors from 47 countries and almost 53,000 industry professionals from 138 countries. www.dubaiairshow.aero
The Gulf Aviation Training Event (GATE), from 14 to 15 November 2011, is a conference running during the Dubai Airshow at Dubai’s Airport Expo. Dedicated to the growing regional demand for civil aviation training, recruitment and simulation, GATE also features a pavilion within the airshow exhibition halls to showcase companies providing flight training products and services. www.gates.aero

Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME), which showcases the latest innovations in aircraft interiors, equipment, inflight entertainment and telephony, is co-located with MRO Middle East (MROME), the highly successful maintenance, repair and overhaul conference and exhibition, run in conjunction with US-based Aviation Week, and will run from 1 to 2 February 2012 at Dubai’s Airport Expo. www.aime.aero www.mrome.aero

Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA), from 11 to 13 December 2012, is organised on behalf of the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) and brings together the world’s leading business aircraft manufacturers and industry suppliers. www.meba.aero
Delivering world class events for 50 years, F&E organises international trade events for business and consumers all over the world. It is a member of the Tarsus Group plc, which was founded, and listed on the London Stock Exchange, in 1998. With offices in the UK (London), USA (Milwaukee), France (Paris), Germany (Düsseldorf), China (Shanghai) and Turkey (Istanbul), the international business-to-business media group has interests in exhibitions, conferences, publishing and online media.