Boeing Dominates Airbus at 2023 Dubai Airshow
After four days of deals at the 2023 Dubai Airshow, American aerospace giant Boeing has emerged as the clear winner, garnering 295 aircraft orders compared to Airbus’s 86. The disparity highlights strong demand for wide-body jets, demonstrating a robust recovery for long-haul air travel demand following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Boeing’s success at the airshow has been a significant comeback after several years of underperformance stemming from major safety scandals. The company set the stage on the first day of the show with a massive order for 95 of its 777 wide-body jets from Emirates Airline, followed by several other big orders.
The robust appetite for wide-body jets reflects the surge in international travel and favors Boeing, which is stronger than Airbus in the wide-body market. Notably, Dubai’s flagship carrier Emirates Airline ordered 55 additional Boeing 777-9s and 35 of its 777-8s, bringing the airline’s total orders for the 777X wide-body jets to 205 units.
Meanwhile, Airbus struggled to keep pace, with its largest order for 30 narrow-body A220-300s coming from Air Baltic. Emirates’ much smaller order of 15 Airbus A350-900 jets after the carrier’s president Tim Clark publicly criticized the cost and maintenance required for the Rolls-Royce engines on the Airbus A350 was another blow for Airbus.
Industry analysts have noted that compared to its previous performances, Boeing has exceeded investor expectations at the Dubai Airshow this year. Airbus, on the other hand, is still potential future orders, with ongoing discussions with Turkish Airlines and anticipated orders from other airlines.
The Dubai Airshow, held every two years, is the Middle East’s largest aviation event, hosting commercial and military exhibitors from around the world. This year’s show has seen an optimistic outlook for the aviation industry, with strong demand for wide-body jets fueling the recovery in long-haul air travel.