The Dubai Airshow wrapped up day three with another round of big jet orders, with competition intensifying between Boeing and Airbus in most categories of widebody and narrow-body jets. Agreements for engine orders, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) also continued to make the rounds.

BOEING ORDERS-

Boeing snaps up remaining flydubai order: Dubai-based airline flydubai has placed an order with US manufacturer Boeing for 75 jets of the narrow-body 737 Max model — with an option to add 75 planes, according to a statement. The order — whose value was not disclosed — will add more Boeing 737 aircraft to the carrier’s fleet, which operates 96 jets of the same 737 family.

The new order brings the airline’s total orderbook made at this year’s Dubai Airshow to up to 300 narrow-bodies, after it earlier placed its first order with Airbus for 150 of the A321 aircraft. The transaction is valued at USD 24 bn, sources told Reuters.

Airbus bagged the big slice: The European manufacturer snagged the bulk of Flydubai’s order due to their jet range and size, flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Gaith told Reuters. “Whenever you make an order of that magnitude, you have to scale or you have to evaluate it on the basis of its merits,” he explained.

AIRBUS ORDERS-

Airbus’ A350 widebodies were Airbus’ most sought-after model on day three of the Dubai Airshow, with at least three orders from regional and global players. The A320 narrow-body models came in second, with an order from Libya’s Buraq Air.

DATA POINT- The orders underscore the growing popularity of the A350 family, which had received over 1400 orders from 64 customers by the end of October 2025.

Here’s a rundown for the day:

#1- Emirates has locked in an order for eight additional Airbus A350-9 jets — valued at USD 3.4 bn, according to a statement. The widebody jets — powered by Rolls-Royce Trent engines — are scheduled for delivery in 2031. Once delivered, the new order will expand the carrier’s A350-9 fleet to a total of 73 units.

The sky is yours, Emirates: Dubai’s flagship airline placed a USD 38 bn order for 65 Boeing 777-9 jets earlier this week at the show. Boeing will launch deliveries of the order effective from Q2 2027.

DATA POINT- Emirates’ total orderbook now stands at 375 aircraft units, including 323 widebodies — which will add to the airline’s 269 planes in operation.

#2- Libyan private carrier Buraq Air signed an MoU with Airbus for an order of 10 narrow-body A320neo aircraft, according to a press release. The agreement signals a major expansion for the airline, which currently operates a small fleet of a handful of aircraft. This move aligns with the Tripoli-based carrier’s push to modernize its fleet and expand its destinations.

#3- EgyptAir to add three Airbus planes to its fleet: Egypt’s flagship airline EgyptAir has tapped Singapore-based leasing firm BOC Aviation to lease three newbuild Airbus A350-9 aircraft, according to a statement. Under the contract, BOC Aviation will purchase the widebody aircraft from Airbus and lease them to EgyptAir.

How will this work? BOC Aviation has uptaken three aircraft from this total order under a sale and lease agreement. Of the three, one will be leased under an operational leasing system, while the other two will be under a financial leasing system. The first aircraft is slated to arrive by the end of the year, while the remaining two will be delivered in 2026.

The financing: EgyptAir has financed the uptake of its first batch of five — out of its 16 A350-9 jets orderbook locked back in June at the Paris Airshow. Egypt’s Finance Ministry also provided EGP 20 bn (c. USD 396.53 mn) financing facility to EgyptAir Holding Company to help expand the airline’s fleet.

#4- Ethiopian Airlines has ordered six additional Airbus A350-900 widebody aircraft, according to a press release. This dovetails into the carriers’ Boeing order earlier this week for 11 of the narrow-body 737 Max jets.

ENGINE ORDERS-

#1- Riyadh Air finalized an order for 120 LEAP-1A engines from CFM International to power its 2023 order for 60 A321neo jets, according to a statement . The agreement also covers spare engines for the narrow-body A320 fleet, and the kits will be crafted to increase the engines’ durability in hot climates.

#2- Saudia inked a strategic agreement with GE Aerospace for GEnx-1B engines to power its widebody Boeing 787-9 and 787-10 fleet, according to a statement. The agreement includes the supply of engines, a multi-year MRO program, as well as spare engines and training programs delivered through Saudia Technic.

MRO-

#1- An Airbus A400M dedicated MRO center: The aircraft manufacturer inked an agreement with Abu Dhabi-based manufacturer Calidus Holding Group to look into the development of a localized Airbus A400M-dedicated MRO hub in the UAE, state news agency Wam reports.

#2- Mubadala’s subsidiary Sanad Group has partnered with France’s Safran to establish an aircraft-engine testing center in Al Ain with investments exceeding AED 500 mn, CEO Mansoor Janahi told Asharq Business (watch, runtime: 9:19) on the sidelines of Dubai Airshow. The facility will be twice the size of Sanad’s Abu Dhabi Center.

#3- Joramco + Iraq’s Global Aviation sign MRO pact: Jordan-based, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise-backed MRO outfit Joramco signed an agreement with Iraq’s newly minted airline Global Aviation to carry out C-checks on the carrier’s A321 fleet, according to a statement. Global Aviation was launched in 2024 with a fleet of two Airbus A321 aircraft, focusing on two destinations: Jeddah and Madinah.

SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUELS-

Emirates + Enoc partner up on SAF: Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) has inked an MoU with Emirates Airways to explore and establish joint ventures for the supply of SAF to the Emirates, with Dubai serving as its hub, according to a statement. Under the agreement, the pair will study the SAF supply market — including supply chain infrastructure, production capacity, and commercial viability.

REMEMBER- Enoc signed an MoU with Mercantile & Maritime Group’s subsidiary MENA Biofuels to collaborate on the offtake, supply, and distribution of SAF during day two of the conference.

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