Boeing dominates Dubai Air Show opening day

By Scott Hamilton

Nov. 17, 2025, © Leeham News: Despite Boeing saying it was going to concentrate on outlining a path for certification of the 777X at the Dubai Air Show, the company dominated the opening day with new orders.

Embraer also announced a few orders at the show.

Airbus was a no-show for commercial deals on opening day.

Emirates Airline announced an order for 65 777-9s, with a list price value of $38bn. It has rights to change the order to the 777-8 or the stretch 777-10, should Boeing decide to proceed with this model. Emirates president Tim Clark has been urging Boeing to stretch the 777 into a larger capacity -10 model. Nominally the -9 seats 465 passengers, which would likely be much lower in Emirates’ premium configuration.

“Emirates’ latest agreement with Boeing also provides strong backing for Boeing’s feasibility study to develop the 777-10, a larger variant of its 777X family,” the airline said in a statement.

After Airbus discontinued the giant A380, Clark has been vocal that a plane larger than the 365-seat A350-1000 or the 465-seat 777-9 is needed. Airbus years ago evaluated stretching the -1000 into a “-2000” to match the size of the 777-9 but decided then the market couldn’t support the airplane.

GE Aerospace supplies the engines for the 777-9. It says there is enough reserve power to accommodate a 777-10. Rolls-Royce powers the A350-1000 with its 97,000 lb thrust Trent XWB 97. It’s unclear if this engine could power a -2000.

Regardless, if Boeing proceeds with a 777-10 and Airbus proceeds with an A350-2000, Boeing will still dominate the Very Large Aircraft sector (+400-seats). The -2000 would be significantly smaller than the 777-10.

Ethiopian Airlines committed to purchase 11 additional 737 MAX jets.

Emirates was expected in some quarters to finally be ready to place an order for the A350-1000.

Embraer

Embraer announced orders from the Swiss airline Helvetic Airways and Air Côte d’Ivoire of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

Helvetic ordered three E195-E2s with purchase rights for five more. The first delivery will be at the end of 2026.

Air Côte d’Ivoire ordered four E175-E1s with purchase rights for eight more. Delivery begins in the first half of 2027.

AIN’s Air Show Daily

LNA’s parent company, AIN Media Group, is at the Dubai Air Show. The AIN Show Daily electronic magazine may be found here.

Late Breaking Update

At the very end of the Opening Day, Boeing announced another order: Air Senegal has committed to order nine 737-8 MAX airplanes.

 

Related