SINGAPORE, 24 November 2021: Emirates has concluded the 2021 edition of the Dubai Airshow on a positive note, culminating a week of investment announcements, new partnerships forged, and the strengthening of established connections.
This year, Emirates’ presence at the show included participation in the opening flypast; aircraft static displays; an exhibition stand showcasing its latest cabin products, Emirates Flight Training Academy and the Emirates Aviation University; and offering its renowned hospitality for partners and invited guests in the Emirates Chalet.
Emirates’ latest four-class configured A380 remained a popular draw, featuring the airline’s recently introduced Premium Economy Class cabin, and decorated with the ‘United Arab Emirates 50’ livery, celebrating the Golden jubilee of the UAE. The Cirrus SR 22 and Embraer Phenom 100 jets utilized for training flights by the Emirates Flight Training Academy were also on display to visitors.
During the show, the airline announced a significant investment to retrofit 105 of its Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft with its Premium Economy product, in addition to other cabin enhancements. The entire 18-month retrofit programme, starting in 2022, will take place in Dubai and reinforce the UAE’s status as a centre of aviation excellence. Emirates also signed an agreement with Panasonic to deliver a suite of in-flight entertainment (IFE) solutions for its Premium Economy retrofit programme.
On the first day of the show, Emirates and Gulf Air signed an MoU to develop deeper commercial cooperation between both carriers as they look to leverage each other’s networks.
To support its long-term cargo capabilities and help boost global supply chain connectivity, Emirates SkyCargo announced that it will introduce two new Boeing 777Fs into its fleet in 2022 and signed an agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the conversion of four Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft into full freighters, starting in early 2023.
Building on Dubai’s global logistics hub status and emergence as a centre for e-commerce, Emirates SkyCargo also signed a milestone agreement with Emirates Post to develop an e-commerce end-to-end global logistics platform, with a key focus on serving markets in the Middle East, Africa and West Asia. The first if its kind, this partnership between an airline cargo carrier and a national postal operator combines the global network and capacity strengths of Emirates SkyCargo with the last-mile delivery expertise of Emirates Post.
Emirates signed an agreement with GE Aviation committing to develop a programme that will see an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER powered by GE90 engines conduct a test flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by the end of 2022. The milestone collaboration is expected to demonstrate how widebody commercial aircraft using jet fuel made from alternative sources can lower lifecycle CO2 emissions.
The Emirates exhibition stand welcomed over 4,000 visitors who were able to experience the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER First Class Private Suite, Business Class and Premium Economy Class seat.
