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Boeing Beats Airbus on Day 1 of the Dubai Air Show

Nov. 12, 2017
3 min read
Emirates 787-10
Boeing Beats Airbus on Day 1 of the Dubai Air Show
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Score one for Boeing against Airbus on day one of the Dubai Air Show, with hometown airline Emirates announcing a large order for Boeing 787s but none for Airbus jets.

Emirates ordered 40 787-10, said Sheikh Ahmed al Maktoum, chairman and CEO of Emirates Group, at a press conference at the Dubai Air Show, which began Sunday. The order is worth $15 billion at list prices, and the 300-seater twinjets will be “delivered from 2022 onwards,” al Maktoum said. “Some will be used to replace older aircraft and to keep our fleet always young and modern,” he said.

The Airbus A350 was a contender for the order, but the Dreamliner "was the better option," al Maktoum said. The 787 will be a new airplane for Emirates, the biggest operator of both the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 777, which are the only models in its fleet. Speculation has been swirling among air show attendees that Airbus and Emirates would soon announce an order for as any as 40 A380s, in addition to the 100 already in the fleet and 42 on order, but that hasn’t happened yet. Any order would be a much-needed lifeline for the A380, which is in danger of extinction if Airbus can’t persuade airlines to buy more.

The 787-10 seats typically around 300 passengers, but for Emirates that’s actually on the small side — besides the A380 the airline operates the 777-300ER, which seats 354 people in the least dense Emirates configuration. Analysts had been speculating for months that Emirates would order soon a smaller airplane to open new destinations where 350 seats or more make little commercial sense.

And opening new destinations is just what the 787-10 will allow Emirates to do, at least according to what Kevin McAllister, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said at the press conference. As for what those routes will be, “that’s up to our commercial guys and planning department,” al Maktoum said. And why did Emirates go for the biggest of the 787s when the smaller 787-9 is available? There are “so many things, not only price and technical” details behind the choice of the 787-10, al Maktoum said.

Emirates reported last week that profit rose 77% in the first half of the year, with passengers growing 4%.

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To cap off a good start to the air show — one of the big aviation trade events where airlines and planemakers typically announce orders — Boeing also got an order for five 787-8s and two unspecified large freighters, either the 747-8F or the 777F, from Azerbaijan Airlines, McAllister said in another press conference. If the two freighter orders go to the 747, it would be a small breath of fresh air for the Jumbo Jet, another giant four-engined aircraft that’s succumbing to smaller, highly fuel-efficient twinjets.

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.