While the event lacked the blockbuster breakthroughs of previous years, the 2019 Dubai Airshow also sprang a few surprises. Richard Schuurman travelled to the UAE and analyses the key developments.
AS THE event’s hometown airline, Emirates finally offered some insight into its broader fleet-strategy at the 2019 Dubai Airshow after what has been a long soul-searching process. Its decision-making also confirmed how ‘flexible’ its billion dollar-announcements from previous gatherings in 2013 (Airbus A380 and Boeing 777X) and 2017 (Boeing 787-10) have been.
Emirates’ aircraft requirements have undoubtedly changed due to major uncertainties in the world’s economy, as well as a more pronounced regional slowdown within the Middle East, the surge of low-cost competitors, new partnerships (most notably with flydubai) and advancements in aircraft technology. In 2013, a mixed A380/777X-fleet seemed like the perfect long-term match, but not today. In February 2019, the Dubaibased carrier reduced commitments for the super jumbo from 162 to 123 and instead signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for smaller 40 A330-900s and 30 A350-900s.
As the crowds gathered for the biennial airshow, Emirates revised its Airbu…
