Gulf airlines Emirates and Air Arabia spent a combined $30 billion at list prices on Airbus jetliners as the Dubai Airshow burst into life on Monday, while Boeing won a symbolic first official order for the 737 Max since its grounding in March.
Emirates threw its weight behind the Airbus A350 with an expanded order for 50 jets worth $16 billion, but shelved plans to order the slightly smaller A330neo as the Middle East's largest carrier embarked on a more diversified fleet structure.
The firm order, signed in front of reporters on day two of the Nov.17-21 show, drew a line under the A380 superjumbo, the world's largest airliner, which Airbus had decided earlier this year to close, prompting Emirates to order midsized planes.