Etihad Airways is expanding its fleet of Airbus widebody airliners with a firm order for six A330-900s announced at the Dubai Airshow yesterday. The Abu Dhabi-based operator also agreed to lease a further nine of the same type from Avolon.

Airbus reported that Etihad is a confirmed customer for seven more of the larger A350-1000 long-range jets and three A350F cargo models covered by an earlier contract. This deal will increase the number of this type in its fleet to 27 aircraft.

AerCap is leasing three new Boeing 737 Max 8 airliners to African carrier FlySafair. The agreement was announced on Tuesday at the Dubai Airshow, with deliveries expected to start in the first quarter of 2028.

In the third quarter of 2026, South Africa-based FlySafair is due to receive a pair of Boeing 737-800NG aircraft from AerCap. The carrier launched its services in 2014 and operates domestic routes to 10 cities in South Africa, as well as five international routes to neighboring countries.

The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) is making its Middle East debut at the Dubai Airshow this week, as the Shanghai-based manufacturer seeks to foster “deeper cooperative relationships with global customers and partners.”

A China Southern Airlines C919 narrowbody airliner features alongside a Comac C909 business jet variant in the static lineup, and a second C919 is performing in the daily flying display.

As the UAE works toward implementing its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) roadmap, a current “soft requirement” for a voluntary 1% blend could soon be superseded by a compulsory mandate. Speaking at an Airbus event on the opening morning of the Dubai Airshow, Sharif Al Olama, undersecretary for energy and petroleum affairs at the UAE’s ministry of energy and infrastructure, explained that over the next year, a “comprehensive assessment” on the initiative’s economic impact will inform future regulation.

“We want to hit the ground running [regarding SAF],” Al Olama said. “We in the UAE have the power to drive this at a global scale.” Indeed, over the next week, he will be holding meetings with Abu Dhabi Airport, Dubai Airport, Etihad Airways, and Emirates to discuss “when we can move to the next phase.”

Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyfall is certainly sinking teeth into its enemy with its “Vampire” heavy bomber. This six-motor hexacopter has risen from the shadows to become the most popular UAV of its type, responsible for around two-thirds of missions on the battlefield since entering the fight in 2023. Just over three years since its formation, Skyfall has grown exponentially to become the largest and most prolific drone manufacturer in Ukraine.

As its namesake would suggest, the Vampire “works at night, and it’s pretty scary—flying up to 500 meters above the target and dropping munitions,” a Skyfall spokesperson told AIN. (It’s usually 100 meters on average, since this is the most convenient with non-guided munitions.)

The digital flip-through issue of AIN’s award-winning Dubai Airshow News is now available online. It’s a great way to quickly scan the news from Dubai Airshow 2025, whether you’re in Dubai attending the show or watching from afar.