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The region's airlines dominated international coverage of the Farnborough Airshow 2008 as one after the other, the major players announced multi-billion dollar aircraft acquisitions.

As a marketplace for the global aerospace industry, the Farnborough International Airshow is appreciated by emerging and established markets alike. This year's event hit the headlines as Middle Eastern airlines announced billion dollar orders, notably Etihad Airways and start-up budget airline, FlyDubai.

As reported in the August issue's regional news pages, DAE Capital, the aircraft leasing and finance division of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) also placed a 100 aircraft order valued at US$12.6 billion.

Trevor Sidebottom, managing director of Farnborough International Ltd said: "The airline industry continues to be hit by a combination of slowing economies and high fuel prices, which in turn have led to worries that aircraft manufacturers might cancel orders.

On the evidence of the first two days at Farnborough, it is clear that both manufacturers and airline carriers are in fact expanding their fleets and routes to satisfy growing demand for air travel."

The Kingdom of Bahrain and Farnborough International announced a collaboration to bring an airshow to the region in 2010. The focus will be on the international civil and military market and is in response to the booming aviation industry.

The United Arab Emirates ongoing airport expansion also demanded column inches as Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) announced it is to establish the Middle East's first dedicated executive airport at Al Bateen military airbase.

ADAC will invest $54 million in the project, which is billed as a ‘one-stop shop' business jet facility for VVIP and VIP travellers.

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