Boeing spreads its wings again

Last March, Boeing’s top Middle East salesmen knew they were facing a golden opportunity.

The Dubai Government had just announced it would launch a second airline to join its profitable long-haul carrier, Emirates. But flydubai, as the start-up was later named, would be a budget carrier, meaning its fleet would probably consist of either the Airbus A320 or the Boeing 737.

Boeing, which has lagged Airbus in Middle East sales, had a chance to win a major contract with a new operator that, if it won the crucial first order, promised additional deals as the airline expanded its network.