Boeing-Airbus rivalry simmers as Dubai Airshow set for takeoff

The rivalry between Boeing and Airbus will play out at next week’s Dubai Airshow as the industry wrestles with delayed jets, geopolitical conflict and an increasingly competitive battle for orders. 

Airbus, which trails Boeing in annual orders, is especially looking to use the Middle East’s flagship aviation event to narrow the gap, Reuters reports. The European planemaker is preparing a series of announcements, hoping to regain momentum after President Donald Trump’s May trip to the Gulf produced tens of billions of dollars in Boeing orders.

Airbus sees an opening with flydubai, whose first potential order from Europe could chip away at Boeing’s dominance at the carrier, the news agency said. Emirates, celebrating its 40th anniversary, is expected to play a pivotal role in the week’s activity with around 300 aircraft orders across the show, including a possible purchase of Airbus A350-1000s.

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways is also set to boost Airbus’s tally. The airline is expected to order more than a dozen wide-body jets, adding to a growing regional bet on long-range aircraft that can sustain the global reach of Gulf hubs.

Boeing will arrive in Dubai with deals of its own, but under a cloud of fresh delays, Reuters said. The long-awaited 777X program has slipped further, pushing its entry into service seven years behind schedule.