"Airbus" is Set to Win Most of the "Fly Dubai" Deal at the Dubai Airshow

SadaNews - Airbus is preparing to achieve an early strategic victory at the Dubai Airshow, after a large order that was expected to go to its rival Boeing has turned in favor of the European aircraft manufacturer.

Airbus is expected to win the vast majority of the ongoing negotiations with Flydubai, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

Airbus may secure around 150 orders for A320 aircraft, according to one insider who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the talks. In contrast, Boeing is likely to secure about 50 confirmed orders, according to another source.

The company is also expected to confirm options for the same number as in the previous deal, according to the sources.

Negotiations are ongoing, and the sources warned that the final decision may still be subject to change.

The "Fly Dubai" Order: A Game Changer

A deal with Fly Dubai would represent a significant milestone for Airbus, which has not previously signed a contract with the UAE-based airline that has typically purchased its aircraft from Boeing.

Manufacturers are present this week in Dubai for the biennial International Airshow, where airline customers often finalize their deals with last-minute changes as negotiations stretch into the late hours of the night.

The CEO of Fly Dubai, Ghaith Al Ghaith, previously visited Airbus's headquarters in Toulouse, according to Bloomberg earlier. However, the large deal seemed out of reach last week as Boeing maintained an advantage, according to the insiders.

The Winds Favor Airbus

The situation shifted in favor of Airbus on the eve of the Dubai Airshow as negotiations continued between Ghaith and the company's executive sales team, according to the insiders.
Airbus and Boeing declined to comment, and Fly Dubai did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reuters previously reported that Airbus appears poised to win the vast majority of the Fly Dubai deal, citing sources in the aviation industry.

Airbus is also working to secure orders for wide-body aircraft from Kuwait Airways, Etihad Airways, and the Ethiopian Airlines Group, according to other sources familiar with the talks.

Additional Deal with Emirates Airlines

The manufacturer is still seeking to secure an additional deal with Emirates Airlines to purchase more A350 aircraft, in an attempt to sell the larger 1000 version to the airline, Bloomberg reported earlier.