The Middle East remains a key market for commercial airplanes. Carefully planned economic development in many Arab countries, coupled with the steady expansion of far reaching global airline networks, has led to the growth of air travel at a record pace. Growth rates have averaged 12 percent over the last five years alone. 

Boeing sees 1,580 new airplanes, worth US$260 billion being delivered to the Middle East over the next 20 years, with approximately 60 percent of those airplanes being used to meet growing demand in the market. The remaining 40 percent of new airplanes will replace those being taken out of service. This strong demand is driven by a requirement for newer, more capable, fuel efficient airplanes that can help airlines become more competitive.

Arab airport authorities have encouraged this growth by developing airport capacity for the growing number of passengers. In addition, most Arab airlines are adapting to an increasingly global environment by restructuring programs, upgrading and expanding their fleets and implementing new technology.

The high traffic growth rate is also attributed to the region’s growth in population, vibrant tourism, economic growth, lack of railway systems and the liberalization of commercial aviation. Thanks to the central location of the Middle East, its airlines’ route networks spread out to Europe, Asia, and North America.

As a company Boeing fully supports the view that the Middle East is a natural conduit between East and West and works closely with Arab countries who want to grow their status as crucial hubs for the world’s passengers and cargo. Importantly, Boeing also understands the challenges of operating a profitable airline and is committed to providing the very best products and services to ensure our customers’ success.

Boeing’s airline customers in the region include Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, ALAFCO, Oman Air, Gulf Air, RAK, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Royal Jordanian and RAK Airways.

Based in Dubai, the Boeing Service Center is one of the company’s eight spares distribution facilities worldwide and houses about $25 million worth of parts and an inventory of more than 26,000 items that are shipped around the region to service airline customers. In addition, the presence of two regional spares managers and seven Field Service offices in the region provides a crucial after-sales benefit, with 15 Boeing Field Service representatives providing on-site support to Boeing Commercial Airplanes customers.