Qatar Airways aims to steal limelight at Dubai Airshow 

(MENAFN - The Peninsula) Qatar Airways will be one of the main attractions at the Dubai Airshow, the foremost aerospace event in the Middle East and the fastest-growing in the world, which is scheduled to open on November 15.

"Aviation Industry in the Middle East is booming. The Dubai Airshow is opening amid strong predictions that the Middle East region will lead the aerospace industry's economic recovery," said Alison Weller, Director of show organiser, F and E Aerospace. "Qatar Airways have always been a major audience puller with its announcements of new aircraft deals. This year also we hope Qatar Airways, will surely be in the media with expected orders," she told The Peninsula.

During Dubai Airshow 2007, Qatar Airways placed an order for 30 firm and 30 options for Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners and confirmed orders for 27 Boeing 777s. This year the airline will already booked in for a press conference.

Apart from Qatar Airways, AMH Aviations, the agent for Diamond Aircraft Industries of Austria will also participate in the five day event.

Within the Middle East region's commercial aviation market, Airbus has predicted that international air passenger traffic will grow 6.6 per cent over the next decade, making it the world's fastest-growing region for aviation. It added that the number of aircraft serving the region would almost triple by 2028.

Boeing too has asserted that air travel in the Middle East is stronger than in most global regions, reporting that the market is valued at $300bn over the next two decades, with a requirement for more than 1,700 commercial jets.

Defence spending in the Middle East region is predicted to exceed $100bn by 2014, accounting for 11 percent of arms orders globally, according to a recent report by analysts Frost and Sullivan.

"Dubai Airshow is considered the barometer of the aerospace industry in the Middle East and, when we consider these reports, both from industry watchers and the world's two leading aircraft manufacturers; we can't help but be optimistic for the success of this year's event," she said.

Dubai Airshow is expected to attract up to 900 exhibitors from nearly 50 countries, plus some 50,000 visitors, an overall 10 per cent increase over the previous event in 2007. The last Dubai Airshow in 2007 drew 850 exhibitors and some 45,000 visitors, achieving a world record-breaking order book of $155bn.

This year, Middle Eastern companies are expected to make up some 25 per cent of all companies exhibiting.The show is also welcoming nearly 200 first-to-market exhibitors from 20 countries, including key first-time participants.

By Huda NV