COMAC Makes Dubai Airshow Debut

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COMAC Makes Dubai Airshow DebutBy CHARLOTTE BAILEY • WriterNovember 18, 2025The 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. Originally introduced as the ARJ21, the standard C909 regional jet seats up to 97 passengers in a single-class layout or 78 in a dual-class layout. The business jet variant, the C909 CBJ, accommodates up to 29 passengers. A selection of models inside the exhibition hall indicates the C909’s potential as a medical services, firefighting, emergency management, and converted freighters. China Southern Airlines' C919 on the airshow's static display has a 164-seat three-class cabin layout. According to COMAC, its interior is designed “in an elegant Chinese style, like walking in the light.”To date, more than 170 C909 business jets and 26 C919 airliners have been delivered, although no COMAC aircraft have been certified by regulatory authorities outside China.The Chinese state-owned airframer also states that its C929 widebody aircraft, projected to have a range of 12,000 km (6,497 nm) and a standard configuration of 280 seats, is “steadily progressing in its development.”COMAC Makes Dubai Airshow Debut | Aviation International News2. UAE Considers Implementing Mandatory SAF BlendsBy CHARLOTTE BAILEY • WriterNovember 18, 2025As 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its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) roadmap, a current “soft requirement” for a voluntary 1% blend could soon be superseded by a compulsory mandate.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.” Overall, he cites these parties’ reactions as “very positive,” with the UAE’s SAF and LCAF [Lower Carbon Aviation Fuel] Committee also “playing a role in terms of mediating between the offtakers and the suppliers.”Al Olama believes the region is well poised to help spearhead SAF for a number of reasons. “First and most important is [the UAE’s] capability of attracting investment, availing finance, and then also the ease of doing business. The second is a very agile government. […] And third, we do have certain resources that can help us deliver these kind of mandates,” he told AIN. An initiative underway in Hong Kong to convert airport waste into SAF is also a “blueprint we can apply immediately elsewhere,” he added, noting that “the scale of airports we have in the UAE” are ideally placed to benefit from a similar use of the “comprehensive ecosystem.”Maryam Ali AlBalooshi, environment manager at the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority, added that the pressure is on to deliver “a good result” by 2028. “We are trying to build our model in a different way [to other countries],” she suggested, concluding that while the UAE has the policy and roadmap in place, “other elements are [currently] lacking."UAE Considers Implementing Mandatory SAF Blends | Aviation International News3. FAA Lifts ATC Restrictions, General Aviation BansBy KERRY LYNCH • Editor, AIN monthly magazineNovember 17, 2025The FAA has terminated an emergency order mandating a reduction of flights at 40 busy airports in the U.S. and a subsequent ban on general aviation operations at 12 of them, effective today. “This means normal operations can resume across the National Airspace System (NAS),” the agency said in a statement released yesterday.According to the FAA, the decision to terminate the order followed detailed reviews of safety trends and a steady decline of “staffing-trigger events” at air traffic control facilities. Staffing triggers had declined to eight on Saturday, compared with 81 a week earlier. The triggers eased following the end of the six-week government shutdown on November 12.These triggers led the FAA to release an order on November 7 that called for the step-down of operations overall and subsequently followed with the ban on general aviation operations at 12 specific airports on November 10. While this was going on, a few national newspapers were printing articles alleging that business jets were unaffected by the step-down in operations and suggesting air traffic control privatization options should be considered.In lifting the restrictions, the FAA noted that it was aware of reports of violations of noncompliance by air carriers and is “reviewing and assessing enforcement options.”“I want to thank the FAA’s dedicated safety team for keeping our skies secure during the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history and the country’s patience for putting safety first,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. “Now we can refocus our efforts on surging controller hiring and building the brand new, state-of-the-art air traffic control system the American people deserve.”The business and general aviation community praised the efforts of the government to keep the skies safe during the unprecedented shutdown. At the same time, they are cautious to ensure such steps do not recur.“We will continue to ensure all operations, commercial and [general aviation], are treated fairly and that our aviation system is not impacted by government shutdowns in the future,” said AOPA president and CEO Darren Pleasance. “We also look forward to continuing our work to support the hiring and training of additional air traffic controllers and modernizing our nation’s air traffic control system.”FAA Lifts ATC Restrictions, General Aviation Bans | Aviation International News4. Dubai Airshow Stands Out for Airliner Orders and Military SurprisesBy CHARLES ALCOCK • Managing EditorNovember 16, 2025The Gulf, where blockbuster commercial aviation demand converges with rising regional military spending, is arguably the prime location for a major aerospace and defense event. With the UAE consistently demonstrating its willingness to handle international relations in its own unique way, the Dubai Airshow this week is poised to make its mark as the industry closes 2025.Spending by airlines, airports, and other civil aviation service providers in the Middle East is projected to exceed $28 billion this year, on track to surpass $35 billion by 2030. Last week, the IBA consultancy predicted that more than 300 new commercial aircraft orders and commitments would be announced during the show. Based on very approximate average pricing, this business could add around $60 billion to the year-end tally.According to IBA’s chief economist and data officer, Stuart Hatcher, Emirates might confirm plans to switch its planned purchases for Boeing’s delayed 777X widebody to the 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350-1000 models instead. He expects Airbus to have a good show, with fresh interest in its A350F freighter, and foresees more narrowbody orders from local carriers Oman Air and Etihad.However, behind these new aircraft orders lies complexity, according to Scott Hamilton, senior editor with Leeham News and Analysis, which is part of AIN Media Group. “The Middle East airlines can expect more delivery delays from Airbus and Boeing because of supply-chain delays primarily for engines and interiors,” he commented on the eve of the Dubai Airshow. “Etihad and Qatar still have issues with the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engine on the Airbus A350-1000, and Tim Clark at Emirates remains skeptical of this engine on the A350-1000, hence his continued reticence in ordering the airplane.”Hamilton expects Boeing to have a positive show with a strong presence headlined by the appearance of its 777-9 aircraft. Overall, he sees geopolitics being favorable in the context of the U.S. presence at the Dubai event.Airliner Orders and Military Surprises Set 2025 Dubai Airshow Apart | Aviation International NewsThe audio and content of this podcast shall not be used for AI model training or any other purposes. That’s all for this episode of Aviation Newsletter. Thank you for listening. Podcast by Luna. Sound Edited by Jovie. Aviation Newsletter is brought to you by the Starrime team. You can catch our podcast on all major podcast platforms. We also look forward to seeing your comments. See you soon.