US firms win big at Dubai Airshow

Washington Nov 28 (IANS/WAM) US companies were the big winners at the 2017 Dubai Airshow as UAE customers placed more than $44 billion in new orders for American commercial aircraft and defence-related equipment and services an official statement said.

"US companies remain the preferred supplier for the United Arab Emirates commercial and military aviation requirements " said Yousef Al Otaiba the UAE Ambassador to the US.

"US exports of commercial and military aircraft services and equipment to the UAE make up the largest share of America s $19 billion trade surplus with the UAE " he said.

At the airshow Emirates Airline placed firm orders for 40 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft valued at $15.1 billion. According to the US Department of Commerce jobs multiplier this order alone will support 78 000 US jobs - both at Boeing and at its suppliers across the US.

Also at the Airshow UAE-based regional airline flydubai announced a separate $27 billion order for 225 Boeing 737 MAX Airplanes the largest-ever single-aisle jet order by a Middle East carrier. Flydubai operates an all-Boeing fleet of planes.

"The UAE s airlines rely on Boeing airplanes to meet the growing demand for air travel in the region and between the region and Asia Africa Europe and North America " Al Otaiba said.

"Over the last decade UAE customers have purchased over $150 billion in Boeing aircraft supporting hundreds of thousands of American jobs."

The 787-10 aircraft will be assembled at the Boeing facility in North Charleston South Carolina and the 737s will be manufactured in Renton Washington.

In the defence sector the UAE agreed to a $1.6 billion deal with Lockheed Martin to upgrade the UAE Air Force s fleet of 80 F-16 fighter jets.

The UAE also announced a $684 million deal with US Raytheon for precision-guided munitions.

"The deals between UAE customers and US companies will support American jobs and help grow the US economy " the Ambassador said.

--IANS
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