Dubai Airshow Day 2: Airbus Scores Big, Boeing Secures Steady Commitments

Orderbook Shifts Toward Airbus as A321neo, A330neo and A350 Families Surge
Leasing market showed a push
Drone show in the evening mesmerised the audience

By Sangeeta Saxena

New Delhi. 18 November 2025. Day 2 of the Dubai Airshow 2025 unfolds with a decisive shift in commercial aviation momentum as Airbus sweeps the orderbook with multiple high-value commitments, new customers, and strategic fleet shifts away from rival OEMs. While Boeing secures important but smaller-scale confirmations, the day clearly belonged to the European manufacturer, which records major wins with flydubai, Etihad Airways, Air Europa, and Ethiopian Airlines. De Havilland Canada also enters the spotlight with a notable regional aviation agreement with India One Air.

Airbus delivers a commanding performance on Day 2, clinching some of the largest announcements of the show. The highlight comes from flydubai, which signs a landmark Memorandum of Understanding for 150 A321neo aircraft, signalling a dramatic fleet diversification and a significant move away from its historical Boeing-only strategy. This deal marks flydubai as a new Airbus customer, reshaping competitive dynamics in the Middle East narrowbody market.

Etihad Airways reinforces its long-term fleet modernization strategy with a series of major Airbus orders. The airline confirms an order for six A330-900s, becoming a new customer for the A330neo, while also adding seven A350-1000s, taking its total for the type to 27. In addition, Etihad commits to three more A350F freighters, raising its total to 10. Complementing these purchases is its decision to lease nine A330-900s from Avolon, demonstrating strong confidence in Airbus’s next-generation widebody platform for both passenger and cargo growth.

Air Europa makes headlines with an MoU for up to 40 A350-900s, marking its entry as a new A350 customer and signalling a strategic pivot from its current Boeing 787 long-haul fleet. Ethiopian Airlines, already one of Africa’s largest widebody operators, strengthens its Airbus relationship with an additional order for six A350-900s, reaffirming its long-standing investment in advanced, fuel-efficient aircraft.

While Airbus commands most attention, Boeing records a meaningful update of its own. Gulf Air finalizes a previously announced firm order for 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with options for three more, bringing its total commitment for the type to 17. The agreement underscores the enduring appeal of the 787 family for long-haul flexibility and fuel efficiency, particularly among Middle Eastern carriers.

Adding to the day’s announcements, De Havilland Canada signs a Letter of Intent with India One Air for up to 10 Twin Otter Series 300-G aircraft. The move bolsters India One Air’s ambitions to expand regional connectivity under India’s UDAN scheme and reinforces the Twin Otter’s position as a proven platform for short-haul, remote, and last-mile operations — aligning perfectly with India’s regional aviation push.

flydubai has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 150 A321neo aircraft, marking the airline’s debut as an Airbus customer and underscoring its confidence in Dubai’s ambitious growth plans. The agreement was formalised by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of flydubhai, and Christian Scherer, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, in the presence of flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith on Day 2 of the Dubai Airshow 2025. “We are pleased to announce a landmark agreement for 150 A321neo aircraft, representing another important milestone in flydubai’s journey. This new agreement is not only about adding aircraft—it supports the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33,” said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

Commercial widebody excitement built through the afternoon as the Airbus A350 opened the sequence with one of the day’s first major jet demonstrations, followed by a crowd-pleasing aerobatic routine from the Extra 330 and a powerful performance by the Dassault Rafale. China’s COMAC continued its strong presence with the C919 taking to the skies ahead of India’s HAL Tejas. The UAE’s Fursan Al Emarat delivered a long, vibrant display of smoke trails and tight formations before the Boeing 777X showcased its flagship capabilities. The late-day segment featured some of the most anticipated military platforms, including the F-35, the Joby eVTOL highlighting future air mobility, the US Air Force F-16, the Bader 250, and the KA-52 attack helicopter. The programme closed with a major headliner as the Russian Knights brought their signature Sukhoi fighters into a dramatic finale, concluding an action-packed flying display at the Dubai Airshow. Su-57 which flew yesterday did not fly today and so didn’t the Moroccan Marche Verte. Of the military aircraft P8 and B-52 were conspicuous with their absence from the skies today.

JEKTA, the Switzerland-based developer of the zero-emissions PHA-ZE 100 amphibious aircraft, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with UAE-based Tahseen Aviation Services to explore the future potential of multi-purpose amphibious aviation operations across the GCC, and further into Africa and Asia. Under the agreement, both organisations will jointly identify and evaluate opportunities for deploying amphibious aircraft on routes that could benefit business aviation, cargo and logistics operations, and oil field services (OFS) clients in the region. JEKTA’s PHA-ZE 100, a sustainable amphibious aircraft capable of operating from water, paved, and unpaved surfaces, offers flexibility for direct, efficient, and comfortable travel to luxury resorts, business hubs, remote islands, desert locations, and offshore energy sites—positioning amphibious aviation as a transformative new capability for the region.

AerCap announced at the show that South African low-cost carrier FlySafair has signed a lease agreement for five Boeing 737-family jets, comprising three 737 MAX aircraft and two from the 737NG series. In another significant development for Boeing, Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air finalised a major purchase agreement for up to 18 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Originally revealed in July as a deal for 12 firm orders and six options, the agreement has now been updated to 15 firm orders and three options, underscoring Gulf Air’s continued investment in its long-haul fleet expansion.

Sanad, the global aerospace engineering and leasing leader owned by Mubadala Investment Company, has signed a long-term Musataha agreement with Abu Dhabi Airports (ADAC) during the Dubai Airshow 2025, marking a major step in anchoring the UAE’s aerospace future in Al Ain. The 50-year land lease grants Sanad development rights over two strategic plots totalling 70,000 square meters within the Al Ain Aerospace Park. These sites will house Sanad’s next-generation aerospace initiatives, including the new MRO centre for the Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engine, a twin 12×12 test cell complex, and future expansion projects. The agreement was formalised by Mansoor Janahi, Managing Director and Group CEO of Sanad, and Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, in the presence of senior leaders from Mubadala and ADAC. This milestone strengthens Al Ain’s emergence as a leading aviation hub and advances the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy’s goal of establishing the Emirate as a global centre for aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and innovation-driven growth.

Emirates has once again been crowned ‘Best Airline in the World’ at the prestigious ULTRAs travel awards, marking its eighth consecutive win and reaffirming its global leadership in premium air travel. Voted by Ultratravel’s network of 1.2 million travellers, the airline also secured the title of ‘Airline with the Best Premium Economy Class’, while Sir Tim Clark received a distinguished ‘Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to Global Aviation’. Celebrating the honour, Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, said the recognition reflects the carrier’s unwavering commitment to ensuring every customer truly “flies better.” He highlighted Emirates’ continuous investment in enhancing the travel experience—from expanding its global network and upgrading its fleet through a multibillion-dollar retrofit, to advanced hospitality training and new technologies enabling seamless journeys—underscoring the airline’s drive to raise the bar year after year.

As the sun set over Dubai Airshow, the excitement shifted from the runway to the night sky. The “Party on the Runway” came alive with a spectacular drone show, where hundreds of synchronized drones illuminate the darkness to paint vivid images in the air. From historic aircraft silhouettes to cutting-edge jets, from glittering skylines to orbiting satellites, each formation transformed the sky into a living canvas of aviation and space innovation. The dazzling display not only celebrated the spirit of flight but also brought together visitors, exhibitors, and aviation enthusiasts for a magical, futuristic finale to the day’s events.

Day 2 of the Dubai Airshow 2025 ends with Airbus emerging as the clear winner, earning new customers, major fleet conversions, and strong loyalty from established operators. Boeing maintains steady interest with important Dreamliner confirmations, while De Havilland strengthens its footprint in regional aviation through India One Air. The day’s announcements — ranging from narrowbody expansions to widebody renewals and regional aircraft commitments — demonstrate a global industry firmly focused on efficiency, sustainability, and diversified growth.