DAS2025 Day 2: Major Widebody and Narrowbody Deals Shape the Show
Mztourist, CC BY-SA 4.0
Day 2 of the Dubai Airshow 2025 delivered another wave of significant aircraft orders, reinforcing strong demand from airlines across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
Ethiopian Airlines Expands Its A350 Fleet
After committing to 11 additional Boeing 737 MAX jets on Day 1, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) returned with yet another major announcement.
The carrier has placed a firm order for six Airbus A350-900s, expanding its long-haul fleet and strengthening its position as one of Africa’s most globally connected airlines.
The agreement was signed at the Dubai Airshow by Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales for the Commercial Aircraft business.
Air Europa Signs MoU for Up to 40 Airbus A350-900s
Spain’s Air Europa (UX) unveiled a major long-haul expansion plan, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for up to 40 Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
The country’s third-largest airline aims to boost its intercontinental network, and the A350-900—known for its fuel efficiency and passenger comfort—will play a central role in that strategy.
Etihad Airways Adds A330neos and More A350s
Fresh off yesterday’s commitment for six A350-900s, Etihad Airways (EY) continued its widebody fleet growth with several new announcements:
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A firm order for six Airbus A330-900s
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A lease commitment for nine additional A330-900s from Avolon
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An order for seven more Airbus A350-1000s, bringing its total for the type to 27
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An additional three A350F freighters, increasing its A350F commitment to 10 aircraft
These orders reinforce Etihad’s strategy to strengthen both its passenger and cargo operations as it continues expanding its global long-haul network.
flydubai Places Major Narrowbody Order
Following its Day 1 selection of the GEnx-1B engine for its Boeing 787 fleet, flydubai (FZ) made headlines again by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 150 A321neo aircraft.
This marks a significant evolution for the airline—traditionally an all-Boeing 737 operator—as it positions itself to capture growth in regional and medium-haul markets.
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