Dubai Air Show the release of the aviation industry recovery signal


　　 newspaper reporter in Abu Dhabi Wang Junpeng

　　The 17th Dubai Airshow was held from November 14th to 18th at Al Maktoum Airport in Dubai, UAE. This is also the first major international air show held since the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, with a total of 148 countries More than 1,200 aviation and aerospace companies from the region participated in the exhibition, of which 371 companies made their debut.

There are a total of 20 national pavilions in the indoor exhibition area of ​​this year's air show, with more than 160 aircraft on display outdoors. The 5-day Dubai Air Show attracted more than 85,000 visitors.

　　Affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the international aviation industry has been hit hard. The 2020 Farnborough Air Show in the UK and the 2021 Paris Air Show in France have been forced to cancel.

Thanks to the effective control of the epidemic by the UAE, this Dubai Airshow is not only held as scheduled, but also has a much larger scale than previous ones, including Boeing 777X wide-body aircraft, Leonardo AW609, Bombardier Global 7500 large long-range business jet, and Russia's single-issue five-generation long-range business jet. A series of new products, new technologies and new concepts including the fighter "General" were unveiled at the Dubai Air Show.

The current air show has injected strong impetus into the recovering international aviation industry. Especially in the context of profound changes in the aviation industry triggered by the epidemic, the 2021 Dubai Air Show will have more vane significance.

　　The Dubai International Air Show was formerly known as the Arab Air Show held in 1986. The first Dubai International Air Show was held in 1989 and then held every two years. It is currently the most influential international air show in the Middle East.

Timothy Horse, general manager of Tarsus Middle East, the organizer of the Dubai Air Show, said that the 2021 Dubai Air Show is of great significance. The epidemic has brought profound changes to the aviation industry. The Dubai Air Show is more focused on the development of the aviation industry in the post-epidemic era. Including scientific and technological innovation, sustainable development and other topics.

He also said that the Dubai Air Show has released a positive signal of the recovery of the aviation industry. Exhibitors, industry experts and visitors from all over the world have in-depth exchanges and interactions during the Dubai Air Show, which fully reflects the vitality and resilience of the industry.

According to reports, the total amount of orders signed on the opening day of Dubai Air Show reached 137 billion dirhams (approximately 37.5 billion U.S. dollars).

　　From the 2021 Dubai Air Show, we can get a glimpse of the new trends in the development of the aviation industry after the epidemic, including more attention to air cargo, sustainable development as the theme, and technological innovation leading the development of the aviation industry.

　　The growth of air cargo during the epidemic has made this Dubai Airshow pay far more attention to cargo aircraft than before. Airbus A350F and Boeing 777XF have attracted much attention.

The two major aviation giants are very optimistic about the recovery of e-commerce after the epidemic, and are actively planning the layout, making the creation of a freighter product line a priority.

In order to meet the market's strong demand for 737-800 modified cargo aircraft (BCF), Boeing announced at the Dubai Airshow that it will open new 737-800BCF production lines in Gatwick, London, and KF Aerospace, Canada, and increase investment in the cargo aircraft market. .

　　In the field of commercial airliners, Boeing's 777X wide-body airliner made its debut at the Dubai Air Show.

The engine used in this model is a new GE9X engine manufactured by General Electric.

Earlier, Emirates Airline ordered 127 Boeing 777Xs, which were originally supposed to be delivered in 2020, but they have been delayed for various reasons. Boeing said it expects to deliver them by the end of 2023.

It is reported that Emirates is considering replacing some of its 777X orders with the 787 Dreamliner.

This kind of passenger aircraft that can meet the longer voyage and has a larger cargo compartment is generally favored by Gulf Airlines.

Affected by the epidemic, major airlines are currently paying more attention to operational economy than ever in adjusting their fleets.

　　This Dubai Airshow also focuses on sustainable development and technological innovation.

The organizer has specially set up a technology innovation zone and a startup zone for start-ups, and organized a series of aviation and aerospace industry technology conferences and forums, inviting industry experts and scholars to discuss topics such as air cargo, energy conservation and environmental protection, and air traffic management, while focusing on artificial intelligence, The use of 5G, cyber security and autonomous driving in the aviation industry.

In 2020, Airbus announced that it plans to develop the world's first zero-emission commercial aircraft by 2035. At the Dubai Air Show, Airbus displayed an aircraft model called "ZEROe".

Glenn Luelin, Airbus’s vice president in charge of the project, said that “ZEROe” will use hydrogen as a fuel. When battery technology cannot match the aviation industry, hydrogen is an ideal choice for achieving zero carbon emissions in the aviation industry.

　　At present, as countries promote the new crown vaccination, global passenger travel demand is gradually recovering, which is a huge benefit for the aviation industry.

The data shows that the international aviation industry has gradually rebounded from the trough in 2020, but it is still difficult to return to the level before the epidemic in the next year or two.

Another major challenge facing the aviation industry today is the rise in oil prices.

In this regard, industry insiders participating in the Dubai Air Show are generally optimistic, believing that the rise in oil prices marks the recovery of the global economy, which in itself has a positive effect on the aviation industry, and airlines that have experienced the test of the new crown pneumonia epidemic can adjust to their own needs. Business and assets to accelerate the realization of sustainable development.

Wang Junpeng