Posted on 06/01/2005 9:05:18 PM PDT by budanski
Emirates and Qatar Airways the two fast-growing Gulf-based carriers are set to announce a number of firm orders that could add up to somewhere between 100 to 120 aircraft, aviation officials said.
The announcement will be made at the forthcoming Paris Air Show to be held from June 13 to 19, according to a Gulf News report from Tokyo.
While Emirates is set to order a combination of A350s and Boeing's ultra-long range B777-200LRs, Qatar Airways is set to order as many as 50 to 60 B787s.
Following Emirates' recent revelation, Qatar Airways is also set to sign a major firm order in Paris. Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways' chief executive said on Monday, "Yes, we will make a major announcement at the Paris Air Show. I am not at liberty to reveal anything further, but it is going to be big." This would be the biggest shift for all-Airbus fleet operator Qatar Airways. Fifty B787s would cost the airline more than $6.25 billion at list price.
More than 300 officials representing 265 airlines and companies gathered in Tokyo to assess the health of the global aviation industry at the 61st annual general meeting of IATA. Airbus and Boeing officials were seen making last-minute efforts on possible orders. An aviation official close to these negotiations told Gulf News that Boeing's 787 Dreamliner has lost out against its new rival as Emirates has decided on Airbus A350.
"Emirates has decided on A350, not the B787," he said.
Airline officials kept mum on the details of the announcement.
They hinted that it could split its firm orders and keep some reserved for Dubai Airshow.
"We might make an announcement at the Paris Air Show, we might also make another announcement at Dubai Airshow later this year," said Tim Clark, president of Emirates airline, without giving any more details. "We are talking to both the manufacturers on our future requirements."
This certainly will be big if true...
Doesn't that seem like a lot of airplanes for such a tiny country?
emirates is simply one of the best airlines in the world.
(avoid gulf air. they are not.)
Might have something to do with this story
Boy am I glad I bought Boeing during the recession.
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