During day one of the 2019 Dubai Airshow, Boeing and Embraer secured top-up orders from existing airline customers; reflecting the benefits their products offer to efficient operations.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Boeing 787s
Biman Bangladesh Airlines launched Boeing’s order scene at the show, with an order for two 787-9 Dreamliners to add to their existing fleet of four 787-8s.
The deal, valued at $585 million at list prices, was previously attributed to an unnamed aircraft in Boeing’s order backlog.
“While we have a good domestic network, we plan to extend our international network to include more destinations in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The 787 with its technological superiority, excellent operational performance and passenger experience will enable us to achieve that goal.”
Air Marshal Muhammad Enamul Bari, Former Chief of Air Staff, Chairman Board of Directors, Biman Bangladesh Airlines
Biman will benefit from the extended range, cargo carrying capacity and greater passenger numbers on existing and upcoming routes. The 787-8 has already proved itself as a market opener for the airline, after launching their Dhaka to Medina, Saudi Arabia route.
Installed in the aircraft will be 296 seats, which after analysis by the airline, should provide an 85-90 percent load factor.
As well as using the 787-9s to increase frequencies on existing routes such as Dhaka to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, Biman is also seeking approval to being flights from Dhaka to Toronto via Manchester.
Additionally, Singapore and Bali flights are being examined with the airline priority being New York.
Both aircraft are expected to be delivered to the airline on the 19th and 21st of December 2019.
Air Peace Embraer E195-E2s
Nigeria and West Africa’s largest airline, Air Peace, signed a contract with Embraer, during day one of the Dubai Airshow, for an additional three Embraer E195-E2 aircraft.
The deal, valued at $212.6 million at list prices, will be reflected in Embraer’s 2019 fourth-quarter backlog.
By signing this contract, Air Peace’s total Embraer E2 order stands at 13 E195-E2s with 17 purchase rights for the sane model. First delivery is scheduled for the second quarter of 2020, making them the first E2 operator in Africa.
“The E195-E2 is the perfect aircraft to expand our operations in African and this new order is a further confirmation of our ‘no-city-left-behind initiative which we shall continue to operate. We are receiving impressive data about the aircraft’s economics now that is in revenue service, and this was a driver to place this new firm order with Embraer.”
Air Peace Chairman/CEO, Mr. Allen Onyema
Air Peace’s E195-E2s will be configured in a comfortable dual-class arrangement with 124 seats. The airline operations more than 20 local, regional and international routes and has strategic plans to expand those routes.
For the full coverage of the 2019 Dubai Airshow, stick around this blog and its associated social media platforms.