Recently in Dubai Air Show 2007 Category

Live from the Airbus press conference. Air Blue orders 8 A320s making it Pakistan's fastest growing airline in Pakistan. The order makes 14 total A320s in its fleet.

Shahid Abbasi and John Leahy announced that they are in talks to purchase A350XWB aircraft as well. When asked by Flightblogger, Mr. Abbasi says he is speaking with Boeing on a 787 purchase as well and the order could go either way. A decision should come by June 2008.

Deliveries for the A320 will start in July 2009.

Expansion will be eastward to Singapore and Bankok as well as routes within the region.

UPDATE: 10:42 GST - Chief Operating Officer, Shahid Abbasi was present at the press conference, not Chairman and CEO Tariq Chaudhary

Reporting live from the Dubai Air Show. Qatar Airways, Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Fuel Company, Airbus and Rolls Royce are signing a milestone agreement to study the use of synthetic jet fuel to power aircraft.

The goal is to make Qatar the GTL (gas to liquid) producing capitol of the world.

By converting natural gas to liquid jet fuel, aircraft will benefit from distinct advantages:

1. Higher energy density. (potentially 4-5%) Which means aircraft will be able to fly longer on the same amount of fuel. Or rather, less fuel for existing routes.
2. Cleaner burning: Sulfur and nitrate emissions are zero.
3. It is a "drop-in" fuel meaning that no modification or new engine technology is required. In addition, Airbus' new fuel initiative requires that there will be no change to airport infrastructure. An aircraft that can run GTL will be able to use traditional kersene and biofuel with existing technology.

Qatar Gas Ventures suggests that airlines should expect to pay a premium for the increased efficiency.

DUBAI -- Airbus and Yemenia-Yemen Airways have announced a firm order for 10 A350-800 XWB aircraft. They will be configured in a two class configuration (18 first class, 265 economy).

Yemenia signed an agreement with Airbus on March 6, 2008 for up to 10 A350s. The March 2006 order was for the 1st generation A350 (non-XWB).

In addition, Oman Air has placed firm orders for 5 A330 aircraft. Three A330-300 and two A330-200. A choice of engine has yet to be made.

I sat down with Addison Schonland with IAG to talk about the first two very busy days here in Dubai. Addison is on the other side of the planet from me right now; a twelve hour time difference. Good thing he's an early riser.

We raised some excellent questions:

1. What kind of discounts has DAE gotten if they had $15b to spend, but bought $27b worth of aircraft?
2. Why no new A330F or 777F orders?
3. Why is there an absence of A340/A330 orders?

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise

Airbus - Total 100
70 A320
30 A350XWB

Boeing - Total 100
70 737NG
15 787
10 777-300ER
5 747-8F

Qatar

Boeing - Total 57
30 787 + 35 options
6 777-200LR
14 777-300ER
7 777F

Emirates

Airbus - Total 81
50 A350-900
20 A350-1000 + 50 options.
11 A380

Boeing
12 777-300ER

Nas Air

Airbus
20 A320

Embraer
5 E190 + 5 options + purchase rights + 12

Air Arabia

Airbus
34 A320 + 15 options

Saudi Arabian

Airbus
22 A320s + purchase rights for 8

TOTALS

Airbus
146 A320
100 A350
11 A380

Boeing
70 737
5 747-8F
6 777-200LR
36 777-300ER
45 787

Here's a glimpse into the very busy goings on here at the tarmac at DXB. More to come.

DUBAI -- Gary Scott, President of New Commercial Aircraft Programs for Bombardier Aerospace, tells Flightblogger and Flight International that the Montreal based aircraft maker is now working exclusively with Pratt & Whitney to offer a geared turbo fan engine on its C-Series aircraft.

Bombardier intends to launch its C-Series aircraft in 2008 for an entry in to service in 2013.

DUBAI -- Embraer will announce an order from a Gulf customer for greater than 15 E-Jets today. The size of the order is set to be announced in a press conference at 4:30 PM local time today. Flightblogger has learned that the size of the order is greater than any order from its previous Gulf customers.

Embraer will not announce the identity of the order today, only the size of the order. Saudi Arabian Airlines, the largest operator of the E-Jets in the region, has 15 E170s. The identity of the customer will be announced at a press conference Monday.

Just broke a little while ago here. Emirates is stocking up on 93 new firm aircraft (plus 50 options), this time with a massive combination of A350s, A380s and 777-300ER.

The order breakdown is as follows:

11 A380-800
50 A350-900
20 A350-1000
50 A350 (options)
12 777-300ER

Image Courtesy Luis Contreras

Now at the airshow. Updates coming all day long.