UAE sign agreements worth $6.1bn during Dubai Airshow
The United Arab Emirates has, as of now, signed 23 agreements with local and international companies worth around 22.5 billion dirhams which is equivalent to $6.1 billion during the first four days of the Dubai Airshow. This was disclosed by the Ministry of Defence on its official Twitter account on Thursday, November 18, 2021.
The UAE closed up the 2021 Dubai Airshow on a high note, capping a week of investment announcements, new alliances, and the strengthening of existing ties as important aviation players from around the world gathered in Dubai to commemorate a turning point in the industry’s recovery.
This year, Emirates participated in the opening flypast; aircraft static displays; an exhibition stand showcasing its latest cabin products, Emirates Flight Training Academy and the Emirates Aviation University; and offering its renowned hospitality for partners and invited guests in the Emirates Chalet.
The airline announced a major investment at the Dubai Airshow to convert 105 of its Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft with its Premium Economy class, as well as other cabin enhancements. The full 18-month refurbishment effort will take place in Dubai, beginning in 2022, and will further cement the UAE’s reputation as a centre of aviation excellence. Emirates also announced a partnership with Panasonic to provide a range of in-flight entertainment (IFE) solutions for its Premium Economy refurbishment program.
Emirates also signed other agreements and developed strategic alliances with other airlines, suppliers, and stakeholders to strengthen its future capabilities, encourage innovation within the aviation value chain, and increase sustainability initiatives.
Emirates and Gulf Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the first day of the exhibition to build a stronger commercial partnership between the two carriers as they try to use each other’s networks.
To support its long-term cargo capabilities and help boost global supply chain connectivity, Emirates SkyCargo announced that it will introduce two new Boeing 777Fs into its fleet in 2022, and signed an agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the conversion of four Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft into full freighters, starting in early 2023.
The airline announced a landmark partnership with the Emirate Post to establish an end-to-end global logistics infrastructure for e-commerce, with a particular focus on supplying markets in the Middle East, Africa, and West Asia. This cooperation between an aircraft cargo carrier and a national postal operator is the first of its type, combining Emirates SkyCargo’s worldwide network and capacity with Emirates Post’s last-mile delivery experience.
Emirates and GE Aviation have agreed to launch a program that would see an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER powered by GE90 engines do a test flight using 100 percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by the end of 2022. The agreement is planned to show how widebody commercial aircraft utilizing jet fuel derived from alternative sources can reduce CO2 emissions during their entire lives.
