NATIONAL CARRIER FLEET EXPANSION

The world’s major aircraft manufacturers are expected to have delivered more than 1,500 new commercial aircraft by the end of 2013 and have recorded orders for an impressive 2,800 new aircraft. The UAE national carriers are maintaining their growth and expansion strategies. In addition to their fl eet and network expansion the airlines are further stretching their reach through acquisition and code share practices.

In November 2013, Etihad Airways announced its largest ever fleet order, for 199 aircraft and 294 engines which will enable the airline to accelerate its industry-leading growth over the next decade. The order included 87 Airbus and 56 Boeing aircraft, with a further 56 options and purchase rights1. With a fleet of more than 230 aircraft, Emirates currently flies to over 140 destinations in more than 80 countries around the world. Its network is expanding constantly. Over 1,500 Emirates flights depart Dubai each week on their way to destinations on six continents. In recent years, Emirates has made numerous significant announcements regarding the future of its already state-of-the-art fleet. Emirates order-book stands at more than 280 aircraft, with a total value of approximately USD 138 billion as of November 20142.

At the 2013 Dubai Airshow, Flydubai committed to ordering 75 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and 11 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800s. In addition, the airline retains purchase rights for 25 more 737 MAXs. The first aircraft from this order, 11 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800s, will be delivered between 2016 and 20173. In March 2013, Air Arabia took delivery of its 37th aircraft, an Airbus A320. By then, it had received 23 of the 44 A320 aircrafts ordered from Airbus in 2007, and once completed in 2016, the order will more than double the size of Air Arabia’s existing fleet.4

 1 http://www.etihad.com/en-ae/about-us/news/archive/2013/    3 http://www.flydubai.com/en/news/article/
 2 http://www.emirates.com/english/about/the_emirates_story.aspx    4 http://www.airarabia.com/en/