Boeing, Airbus clinch orders worth USD140 bn at Dubai

Dubai Airshow took off on Sunday with huge aircraft orders and commitments worth around USD140 billion for Boeing and Airbus from Gulf carriers, with the US manufacturer well in the lead.
The biennial show began brightly for Boeing's 777X, a long-range wide-bodied airliner featuring lower fuel consumption and composite wings.
The new 777 is scheduled to be ready in 2020.
Etihad Airways began the show with a USD16.7-billion order for Boeing planes, including 25 777Xs and one 777-200 freighter.
The deal also included an order for 30 787 Dreamliners, making the fast-growing carrier the largest single customer for the medium-body plane.

The Abu Dhabi carrier also announced it was taking an option to buy another 26 aircraft from Boeing.

The total value for the order, including engines and options, amounts to USD25.2 billion, according to Etihad.
Emirates Airline followed shortly afterwards by placing orders with both the rival US and European manufacturers, in twin deals valued at USD99 billion.
Of this sum, 80 percent is destined for Boeing's coffers if commitments are confirmed.
The Dubai-based airline ordered 150 777Xs -- 35 777-8Xs and 115 of the 777-9X variant.
Boeing said the Emirates orders were commitments worth USD55.6 billion.
The Middle East's largest carrier also boosted the Airbus sales book with a firm order for 50 A380 superjumbos worth USD20 billion at book value, in the first sale of the double-decker this year.

The order cements the status of Emirates as the single largest operator of the long-haul airliner, its chief Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum said.
"Emirates has understood from the start the A380's advantages in terms of efficiency, economics and passenger comfort," Fabrice Bregier, Airbus chief and president, told the signing ceremony.
Airbus has been struggling to sell its A380 superjumbo. Sales of the world's largest commercial aircraft suffered in 2012 after hairline cracks were discovered on A380 wings. Just nine were sold last year, down from an initial order of 30.
Airbus also clinched a USD19-billion deal with Etihad, which ordered 87 aircraft including 50 extra-wide-body A350 XWBs.

The order comprises 40 long-haul A350-900s, 10 A350-1000s, one A330-200 freighter, in addition to 26 A321neo and 10 A320neo single-aisle planes, in addition to an option for 30 more aircraft.
Emirates budget sister company also made a commitment to buy up to 100 Boeing single-aisled 737 MAX and 11 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800s, in a deal valued by Boeing at USD8.8-billion.
Qatar Airways also chipped by signing a letter of intent to buy 50 Boeing 777Xs worth USD19 billion.
The Doha-based airline said it had also ordered five A330 freighters from Airbus, valued at about USD1 billion according to list prices.

The order was accompanied by an option to add eight airliners, which would put the overall price of the deal at USD2.8 billion, chief executive Akbar Al-Baker said.