Dubai Airshow Portends Industry Resuscitation
November 08, 2021
“What is unique about this Dubai Airshow is that it is going to be the first major event for the aerospace industry following the pandemic,” said Ismail Abdulla, CEO of Strata Manufacturing (Stand 1000), the UAE’s groundbreaking aerostructures venture.
When AIN counted 65 A380s parked up long-term at Dubai South in September last year, it did not augur well for the event. “In the last six months, DWC saw many aircraft placed in storage, including several from Emirates," Richard Gaona, chief executive of Switzerland's Comlux, told AIN in September. “Now, every week, three or four A380s are moving back into operation.”
Prevailing growth rates in the decade to 2019 indicated this year’s visitor attendance could hit the 88,000 mark. While there is no guarantee that figure will be achieved, the concurrent staging of Expo 2020, postponed for 12 months, will act as a further draw. “The recent easing of travel restrictions in the run-up to Expo will allow people to travel if they are not being restricted by their home countries,” said managing director of DC Aviation Al-Futtaim Holger Ostheimer.
Senior military and civil delegations from 96 countries have committed to attending the show, said organizers.
“The Dubai Airshow is set to be one of the most anticipated points of convergence for aerospace professionals across all areas of the industry, to facilitate successful global trade and analyze the future of the industry,” said Mubadala Aerospace executive director Badr Al Olama.
In 2019, the show saw $54 billion worth of orders, $4 billion of them on the defense side. Emirates signed for 50 Airbus A350 XWBs worth $16 billion, while Air Arabia ordered 120 aircraft worth $14 billion. Halcon, a unit of UAE military conglomerate Edge Group, agreed to a $980 million deal with the UAE’s Ministry of Defense. Few hope to see a repeat of the bumper year of 2013, when an Emirates mega-order brought the total to $206 billion.