European plane maker Airbus scored a last-minute order from Emirates on the fourth day of the Dubai Airshow, as the airline continues to swell its fleet in preparation for future growth.
However, the order placed was for additional A350-900 jets, rather than the larger A350-1000, sidestepping the differences between the airline and Rolls-Royce over the engine used for the latter.
Even after clinching the order, Airbus fell behind its US arch-rival Boeing in aircraft deals at the Middle East's major air expo where Emirates, the world's biggest long-haul airline, placed headline orders.
“We are happy to see Emirates continuing to build their A350 fleet which shows their trust in Rolls-Royce,” Ewen McDonald, Rolls-Royce's chief customer officer of civil aerospace, told The National on Thursday.
Rolls-Royce said discussions with Emirates on the engine for the larger variant will continue, and that it will “look forward to them choosing this aircraft in the future”, he said.
The Airbus announcement kept order deals flowing at the Dubai Airshow, setting the stage for a strong finish to the event.
Thursday's deal takes Emirates' orders at the event to a total of 110 additional aircraft, including the 95 jets it ordered from Boeing on Monday, for a total value of $58 billion at list prices.
“We plan to deploy our A350s to serve a range of new markets including long-haul missions of up to 15 hours flying time from Dubai,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group.
“We will work closely with Airbus and Rolls-Royce to ensure our aircraft deliver the best possible operating efficiency and flying experience for our customers.”
Emirates expects continued growth in the next six months of its current fiscal year despite geopolitical challenges, Sheikh Ahmed said earlier.
The airline is recording only a minimal effect from the Israel-Gaza war, he said.
“When it comes to whether it will really affect the business we are in today, we see there is a small effect and we hope that it will not continue and they will be able to find a way to solve this issue.”
Drones for aircraft inspections
Emirates also continued to expand its collaboration with Boeing, signing a preliminary agreement with the US plane maker for the use of advanced technologies to improve operations.
The partnership will include using drones to assist in aircraft inspections, virtual and augmented reality to grow precision and effectiveness in maintenance tasks, as well as next-generation prognostic and predictive maintenance, Emirates said.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub signed an agreement with supply chain service provider UUDS in which the latter will be building its third complex at the hub's complex in Dubai South.
UUDS' new hangar will provide aircraft management and on-wing cabin services, featuring an aircraft cabin completion and modification centre. VIP aircraft parking and aircraft on the ground support will also be provided in addition to helicopter services.
GAL-Ammroc, a unit of the UAE's military maintenance company Ammroc, signed a preliminary agreement with California-based Archer Aviation to launch an electric air taxi service in the UAE and the wider Middle East beginning in 2026.
It follows the recent announcement of GAL-Ammroc and Archer’s intent to team up at the new Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries cluster in Abu Dhabi's clean energy hub Masdar City.
The partnership aims to reduce 60-90 minute car commutes with an estimated 10-20 minute electric air taxi flights that are “safe, sustainable, low noise and cost competitive”.
Abu Dhabi's Edge Group, meanwhile, continued to secure partnerships. Its engineering unit, EPI, signed two contracts: one to supply metallic machine parts to Boeing, specifically for the 777, 777X and 787 commercial aircraft, and another to supply machined aircraft parts – also to Boeing – in partnership with Mubadala Investment Company unit Strata Manufacturing.
Its autonomous systems arm, Adasi, signed a Dh239 million ($65 million) contract to supply Garmoosha unmanned aerial systems to the Ministry of Defence, while its guided defence systems unit, Halcon, signed an agreement with UAE software company Augmented Reality Engineering for advanced AR solutions.
Edge's helicopter flight training academy, Horizon, received the 2023 Aviation Safety Marathon Challenge – Psychoactive Substances Management Programme award from the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority.
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
Company profile
Name: The Concept
Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 7
Sector: Aviation and space industry
Funding: $250,000
Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products
The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
Uefa Nations League: How it Works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
England v West Indies
England squad for the first Test Cook, Stoneman, Westley, Root (captain), Malan, Stokes, Bairstow, Moeen, Roland-Jones, Broad, Anderson, Woakes, Crane
Fixtures
1st Test Aug 17-21, Edgbaston
2nd Test Aug 25-29, Headingley
3rd Test Sep 7-11, Lord's
LOVE%20AGAIN
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The specs: Aston Martin DB11 V8 vs Ferrari GTC4Lusso T
Price, base: Dh840,000; Dh120,000
Engine: 4.0L V8 twin-turbo; 3.9L V8 turbo
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic; seven-speed automatic
Power: 509hp @ 6,000rpm; 601hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 695Nm @ 2,000rpm; 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.9L / 100km; 11.6L / 100km
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes. Portland is a 260 km drive from Seattle and Emirates offers codeshare flights to Portland with its partner Alaska Airlines.
The car
Hertz (www.hertz.ae) offers compact car rental from about $300 per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
Parks and accommodation
For information on Crater Lake National Park, visit www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm . Because of the altitude, large parts of the park are closed in winter due to snow. While the park’s summer season is May 22-October 31, typically, the full loop of the Rim Drive is only possible from late July until the end of October. Entry costs $25 per car for a day. For accommodation, see www.travelcraterlake.com. For information on Umpqua Hot Springs, see www.fs.usda.gov and https://soakoregon.com/umpqua-hot-springs/. For Bend, see https://www.visitbend.com/.
The Al Barzakh Festival takes place on Wednesday and Thursday at 7.30pm in the Red Theatre, NYUAD, Saadiyat Island. Tickets cost Dh105 for adults from platinumlist.net
