At the first major air show since the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago, customers demonstrated their confidence in the aviation industry’s recovery and indeed in Airbus by placing orders and commitments for a total of 408 aircraft (269 firm orders and 139 commitments). The agreements covered the full range of commercial aircraft families, including a first commitment for the A350F freighter product.
At a pre-show event, Airbus presented its latest global market forecast, highlighting the progressive shift in demand from expanding fleet growth to the accelerated retirement of older, less fuel-efficient aircraft, which will result in the need for some 39,000 newly built passenger and freighter aircraft. Of these, 15,250 aircraft (about 40%) are scheduled for replacement.
With the UAE Universal Expo set to focus on mobility, sustainability, and opportunity, on the eve of the show Airbus illuminated the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, displaying its company purpose – «Pioneering sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world» – on the façade of this iconic Dubai building, at a time when connecting with people and cultures is more important than ever.
On the opening day of the show, airlines in Indigo Partners’ portfolio placed a firm order for 255 A321neo Family aircraft, including 29 XLRs. The order breakdown is as follows Wizz Air 102 aircraft (75 A321neo + 27 A321XLR); Frontier 91 aircraft (A321neo); Volaris 39 aircraft (A321neo); JetSMART 23 aircraft (21 A321neo + 2 A321XLR).
On the second day, Air Lease Corporation signed a commitment for 111 aircraft covering the full range of aircraft families, including the new A350 Freighter (25 A220-300s, 55 A321neos, 20 A321XLRs, four A330neos, seven A350Fs). Along with the orders, ALC and Airbus announced the first joint ESG plan in aircraft procurement – a joint Sustainability Fund – to encourage industry decarbonization solutions.
On the third day, Jazeera Airways committed to purchasing 28 A321neos and Nigeria’s Ibom Air became a new Airbus customer with a firm order for 10 A220s.
In defense, Airbus sold a further two Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) Airbus A330s to the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defense and also secured a new export order for two new-generation A400Ms from the Indonesian Ministry of Defense.
At the show, Airbus also highlighted its ambition to play a leading role in the development of innovative and sustainable solutions for urban air mobility, building on partnerships and technologies to bring the product to the market by 2025.
