The 19th Dubai Airshow opened Monday at Dubai World Central, featuring two Chinese-developed C919 passenger jets for the first time in the Middle East.
Organizers reported that the five-day event, held under the slogan “The Future is here,” attracted more than 1,500 exhibitors, including 440 debutants. The airshow highlighted more than 200 aircraft—from commercial, military, and private jets to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and next-generation aviation technologies.
Nearly 100 Chinese aviation companies are participating in this year’s event. Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the manufacturer of the C919, highlighted one C919 and one C909, while China Southern Airlines brought another C919. The C919’s appearance marks the aircraft’s first display in the Middle East, and COMAC conducted a demonstration flight of the Chinese-made passenger airliner.
Chinese UAVs, as well as electric vertical takeoff and landing (EVSL) aircraft, attracted considerable attention at one of the world’s largest air shows.
This year’s air show, which attracted approximately 148 000 professional visitors, is expected to be the largest in the history of this biennial event.
