DUBAI: The Dubai Airshow took off on Sunday to a slow start with a record low in sales expected as the Gulf’s main airlines have already placed large orders with major manufacturers.

“Due to large previous orders, the total show order tally this year will be much less than years prior,” said Ben Moores, senior analyst at IHS Aerospace, Defence & Security.

Organisers say the last edition of Dubai Airshow generated business of up to $200 billion, with orders for planes in the first few hours alone topping $162.6 billion, beating the show’s previous record of $155 billion set in 2007.

But this year’s show might have a “record set for lack of sales,” Moores said.

There is currently an order backlog of 750 widebody aircrafts for the Gulf region, so further orders are unlikely, he said. Over 1,100 exhibitors from more than 60 countries are taking part in the biennial fair.

They include major aircraft makers Airbus and Boeing, which in competition for a larger chunk of orders from the ever-growing air travel sector in the Gulf region.

Dubai’s Emirates along with Abu Dhabi’s Etihad and Qatar Airways — the Gulf Three — already have a long list of orders placed with the US and European rivals.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2015

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