Why The Boeing 787 Dreamliner Was A Big Winner At Dubai Airshow 2023

Across the board, there’s no doubt that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner has continually outperformed its rival, helping the American manufacturer achieve an absolutely massive backlog for the aircraft. So far, over 1,000 jets have been delivered, and the company’s order book is simply continuing to grow. On the other hand, Airbus’ rival A330neo has failed to garner the same amount of attention, selling less than a fifth the number of planes that Boeing has been able to.

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Airbus vs. Boeing: Who Won The 2023 Dubai Airshow?

At this week’s Dubai Airshow, airlines across the globe showed up to support and order Boeing’s modern 787 Dreamliner. The A330neo, on the other hand, failed to garner a single order from any airline. There’s no question about it, but in the mid-market long-haul sector, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was an unquestionable winner at the Dubai Airshow.

Critical partners

Of all the orders that were made for the 787 Dreamliner this week, there are a few that stand out above all others. As a company that struggled with safety issues related to the crashing of multiple Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and which has dealt with consistent production delays, maintaining relationships with critical industry partners is essential for Boeing’s continued success in the sales department.

Photo: Boeing

Despite a large array of orders, such as those from Royal Jordanian and Royal Air Maroc, there are two key orders that are important for us to analyze in order to understand why Boeing was the undisputable victor in this category this week. Let’s take a closer look at both of them and what makes them so consequential.

Ethiopian’s fleet expansion

Ethiopian Airlines, one of the largest airlines on the African continent, placed an order for 11 Boeing 787-9 aircraft, with options for an additional 15 jets. Furthermore, the carrier also placed orders for the Airbus A350-900 and the Boeing 737 MAX.

There are two key reasons why this order was consequential, and the first has to do with Boeing’s relationship with the airline itself. Since the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 involving a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, the relationship between the two parties has been strained amid security concerns, with a lawsuit even being settled between both parties back in 2021. Nonetheless, with a massive order for Boeing aircraft, the airline is now demonstrating to the world that Boeing has regained its trust.

With a major trust issue with the manufacturer and no hesitation to take on Airbus planes (the carrier ordered the A350), it wouldn’t have been surprising if Ethiopian had chosen to order the A330neo. Nonetheless, the order went Boeing’s way, demonstrating a major victory for the Dreamliner over its rival. Clearly, the carrier maintains confidence in Boeing while also preferring the 787’s improvements in efficiency, range, and performance over the A330neo.

flydubai’s order

With flydubai’s order for 30 Boeing 787 jets, the carrier has broken a major barrier not just for itself but for low-cost travel in the Middle East. Time and time again, long-haul low-cost airlines across the globe have found the 787 to be the only widebody fit for low-cost operations.

Photo: flydubai

flydubai’s order opens up an entire region to an entirely new kind of carrier that Boeing will be sure to market to. The rise of low-cost travel in the Middle East will undoubtedly come as a victory for the Dreamliner in the long term.

Source: The Seattle Times