Airbus and Boeing face off in Dubai

The Dubai Airshow 2025 is shaping up to be the stage for an intense battle between Airbus and Boeing, with major orders expected.

With the opening of the Dubai Airshow 2025 from November 17 to 21, the curtain rises on a strategic showdown between Airbus and Boeing, emblematic of the huge stake the Gulf represents for the aerospace industry. This edition promises to be marked by caution and opportunity, as the two giants navigate between commercial ambitions and logistical constraints.

Fleet, orders or deliveries, everything will be decided in Dubai. The strongest rumours concern Emirates, which is reportedly in advanced talks with Airbus to order up to 30 A350‑1000s. Such a potential deal could represent a major adjustment to the carrier’s fleet strategy, partly driven by delays to the Boeing 777X.

At the same time, flydubai is exploring unprecedented options. According to some sources, the carrier is considering an Airbus‑Boeing mix in its fleet, an unprecedented strategic choice for it. Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, could announce an order for about a dozen Airbus widebodies, analysts anticipate.

But this commercial duel takes place in a more strained context: both manufacturers are suffering persistent delivery delays. Boeing’s 777X is slipping further — its certification is still awaited — while Airbus warns of supply-chain difficulties that could last several years.

These realities make the announcements less spectacular than in the past: analysts predict around 300 orders, a “reasonable” volume but down compared with more prosperous airshows.

On the exhibition front, Airbus will not be limited to widebodies. It will showcase innovative and sustainable aircraft, such as the A350, but also the A220 and helicopters or military aircraft. Boeing, for its part, will notably display its 777X, despite delays, and its best-seller the 737 MAX.

Finally, the issue goes beyond the simple race for orders: the Dubai show symbolizes the rise of new competitors. The Comac C919, a Chinese single-aisle jet, will be exhibited here for the first time, demonstrating China’s intent to challenge the Airbus‑Boeing duopoly.

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In summary, the Dubai Airshow 2025 is much more than a trade show: it’s a strategic battleground where Airbus and Boeing, while playing the card of headline orders, must contend with structural realities. The winner? Probably the one who can turn options into commitments, without promising more than it can deliver.

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