Boeing officials believe that a lack of commercial aircraft orders and a backdrop of conflict in Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the region mean that this year’s Dubai Airshow could see defense playing a major role.
Paul Oliver, Boeing’s v-p, Middle East and Africa, international business development, said on the eve of the show, “I think…the balance of the show, how much commercial versus how much defense, you are going to see, from my perspective, at least 50-50. There is a lot of interest on defense, [especially] on partnerships.” Several conflict situations in the region meant that military forces in the region were focused on the near-term rather than looking any further out, he added.
“Some of the bigger development programs are pushing further out. They are going for things that are proven, off-the-shelf solutions that meet their needs right now. We are seeing continued interest in the Apache program, plus weapons programs: all of the things that are proven, in inventory, or close to being in inventory.”
Oliver said Boeing (Stand 900) hoped to increase its international sales as a share of the total from 30 percent today to 36 percent within five years.
Bernard Dunn, president, Boeing MENAT (Middle East, North Africa and Turkey) said that Boeing’s biggest achievement in 70 years in the region was likely Emirates’ order of Boeing aircraft at the 2013 Dubai Airshow. “This was the largest commercial aviation contract in world history.”
John Wojick, senior v-p, global sales and marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said that the order was a “once in a lifetime” event that would never be repeated.