Sales have been impressive on the opening day of the Dubai Air Show.
US giant Boeing leads the way with orders topping the 95 billion dollar mark for the company’s new 777 mini-jumbo. Airbus sealed deals in the region of 43 billion dollars.
Airlines Emirates, Etihad and Qatar led the way in the buying spree.
“This is part of the world where countries and governments have invested heavily in terms of infrastructures. You have great airports, you have great duty free, you have ways for people to come and go out of this area, its just a great opportunity for us and a great opportunity for airlines in this region,” explained Randy J. Tinseth, Vice President of Marketing Commercial Airplanes at Boeing.
Reciprocal deals were also signed with Airbus and Boeing agreeing to buy around 5 billion dollars worth of parts and materials from Abu Dhabi.
That has raised concerns for suppliers in Europe and the US worried they will suffer from the growing part Gulf firms are playing in the aircraf