Day two of the Dubai Airshow saw another batch of new orders from regional airlines, with Airbus seeing more attention after a Boeing-heavy orderbook on the first day. Other airlines — like Saudia — are still in talks with aircraft manufacturers, which could potentially be finalized during the show.

EgyptAir orders 10 Airbus widebodies: National flag carrier EgyptAir has placed an order for 10 new A350-900 jets from European planemaker Airbus, the latter announced in a press release. The value of the contract was not disclosed, but the list price for the widebody model in question is USD 317.4 mn apiece, which would place the agreement at roughly USD 3.2 bn without price reductions, which are usually applied in the industry, according to AFP.

When will Egypt get the planes? The aircraft are scheduled to be delivered between 2025 and 2027, EgyptAir CEO Yehia Zakaria was quoted by Sky News Arabia as saying in a presser. He also added that EgyptAir will finance the contract.

Remember- EgyptAir also placed an order for 18 new aircraft from Boeing earlier this week, to be delivered between early 2025 and 2026. American outfit Air Lease Corp is providing the aircraft on a long-term lease.

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Saudia eyes Airbus expansion: Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier Saudia is reportedly considering a large expansion of its fleet with an addition of some 150 narrowbody aircraft, and is in early stage talks with Airbus about the A320 model, Bloomberg cites people close to the matter as saying.

Nothing final yet: The talks are not expected to be completed at the Dubai Airshow, and could still fall apart, the sources told Bloomberg. The size has been expanded from an original target of 100 planes, which could make it the largest in Saudia’s history, the sources added. An airline spokesperson said it is still considering multiple proposals, the outlet cites a Saudia spokesperson as saying, with Airbus representatives declining to comment, Bloomberg writes.

OTHER AVIATION NEWS-

Oman Air has announced the order and delivery of its first Boeing converted freighter, which is the Muscat-based carrier’s first dedicated cargo aircraft, according to a press release. Oman Air Cargo’s volume increased by 42% y-o-y in 1H 2023, driven primarily by capacity expansion in its passenger fleet, according to the release. The new 737-800BCF freighter, which can carry 23.9 tonnes of freight, “will contribute to the growth of the air cargo logistics sector in Oman and beyond, will be based at our strategically located Muscat hub and will enhance our ability to connect East and West,” the airline said.

Aircraft engine manufacturerCFMplans to supply the UAE’s Air Arabia with 240 LEAP-1A enginesto boost its fleet capacity and operations, including powering its existing order of 120 Airbus A320neo family aircrafts, according to a statement. The agreement, signed at the 2023 Dubai Airshow, has a total book value of USD 3.36 bn, and includes a multi-year services agreement and spare engines.

Kuwait Airways is not happy about Boeing delivery delays:Kuwait Airways is expecting compensation from Airbus for delays in delivery of commercial jets, chairman of the airline Abdulmohsen Alfagaan said in an interview with Reuters at the Dubai Airshow. The delays forced the airline to adjust its network and reschedule flights, Alfagaan said, without specifying the length of delays or the type of aircraft it has been experiencing issues with, the outlet writes. The airline reportedly has orders for seven Airbus A330-900 and two A350-900 wide-body jets, as well as nine A321neo and one A320neo narrow-bodies, according to data picked up by Reuters.

The airline is unlikely to place new aircraft orders for three or four years, and is reducing frequencies of certain Middle East and Turkey routes due to a 50% drop in demand caused by the Israel-Hamas war, Alfagaan added.

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