Boeing
At the Dubai Airshow, SunExpress, a joint venture tourism airline of Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, has committed to purchase up to 90 fuel-efficient single-aisle Boeing jets, including 28 Boeing 737-8 and 17 737-10 models, with the opportunity for up to 45 additional 737 MAX airplanes.
Max Kownatzki, SunExpress CEO, said, "Over the next decade, we will more than double our fleet, reaching a 150-aircraft fleet by 2033.”
This new commitment from SunExpress will build on the airline's previous order for 42 737-8s, nine of which have been delivered.
SunExpress has more than 3500 employees and a fleet of 66 aircraft.
Emirates, the world's largest 777 operator with has nearly 150 of the jets in its fleet, placed an order for 90 777X airplanes, including 55 777-9 and 35 777-8 jets. The new order increases Emirates' 777X family backlog to 205 planes. The announcement came during the Dubai Airshow at a signing event attended by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates Airline and Group; and Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
In addition, Emirates is buying five more 787 jets – growing its 787 backlog to 35 – while converting 30 787-9s to 20 787-8 and 10 787-10 airplanes.
The first 777-9 will join the fleet in 2025.
flydubai agreed to purchase 30 787-9 Dreamliners as the airline diversifies its fleet with the introduction of widebody jets to open new routes and serve more destinations.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of flydubai, said, "The highly fuel-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner will allow flydubai to expand its horizon and cater to the growing demand on existing routes."
flydubai currently operates an all-737 fleet of 79 airplanes. The airline has an order backlog of 137 737s.
Royal Jordanian ordered four 787-9 Dreamliner jets as the airline expands and modernizes its widebody fleet. Jordan's flag carrier also reconfirmed at the Dubai Airshow a previous order for two 787-9s, bringing its total 787-9 backlog to six. Royal Jordanian was the first in the Middle East to order the 787 Dreamliner.
Samer Majali, vice chairman and CEO of Royal Jordanian, said, "The airline's current fleet of seven 787-8 Dreamliners has proven successful in connecting Amman to major global destinations. The additional order underscores Royal Jordanian's forward-looking approach and commitment to meeting the growing demand for long-haul travel."
North African carrier Royal Air Maroc placed a repeat order for the 787 Dreamliner, confirming two 787-9s in its order book as the airline grows its widebody fleet. The carrier currently operates nine Dreamliners. This order was previously unidentified on Boeing's Orders & Deliveries website.
"The two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners will enable Royal Air Maroc to expand in the short-term its long-haul network in response to the highly favorable market conditions in 2023," said Abdelhamid Addou, chairman and CEO, Royal Air Maroc. "Simultaneously, the company is actively pursuing a significant tender to quadruple the fleet before 2037."
Its fleet of Boeing airplanes includes 737s, in addition to 787s.
Boeing's 2023 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO) forecasts widebody airplanes will comprise 45% of deliveries to Middle East airlines over the next 20 years, the highest regional percentage worldwide. The CMO projects delivery of 3,025 new commercial airplanes in the region by 2042 ─ including 1,350 widebodies.
The Middle East single-aisle fleet is also expected to more than double as low-cost carriers (LCC) and short-haul networks continue to develop and expand. By 2042, nearly half of the region's aircraft will be single-aisle jets.
"Airlines in the Middle East have increasingly expanded their influence and reach, transforming the region into an international air transit hub," said Darren Hulst, Boeing vice president, Commercial Marketing.
UPDATE:
Also at the Dubai Airshow, Ethiopian Airlines ordered 11 787 Dreamliner and 20 737 MAX airplanes with an opportunity for 15 and 21 additional jets, respectively (total of 67 if all options exercised). The agreement, signed by Ethiopia's national carrier represents the largest-ever purchase of Boeing airplanes in African history.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew, said, "This order will enable us to modernize and increase our fleet in support of Ethiopian Airlines' growth plan and our Vision 2035 Strategy.”
Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines also agreed to work together to provide cabin modification services for the carrier's existing 787 Dreamliners. The comprehensive retrofits will enhance the passenger experience with advanced in-flight entertainment and new seats in all cabins, including lie-flat business-class seats from Boeing joint venture Adient Aerospace.
Boeing announced that Kazakhstan carrier SCAT Airlines ordered seven 737-8 airplanes to expand its 737 MAX fleet. The latest order will nearly double SCAT's 737 fleet as the airline looks to open new routes to European destinations.
SCAT was the first airline in Central Asia to fly the 737 MAX and currently operates three 737-8 and five 737-9 airplanes. This order was previously unidentified on the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website.