Airbus working to secure 100-jet Air Arabia deal for Dubai show

Airbus is working to pin down an order for 100 narrow-body aircraft from Air Arabia that would be worth more than $10b at list prices, according to people with knowledge of the matter. A deal for the A320neo-series may come as early as November’s Dubai Air Show, they said, asking not to be named as the plans are private. Nothing has been finalised and Boeing isn’t yet out of the running, the people said, though Air Arabia is currently an Airbus operator and the US planemaker’s 737 Max narrow-body remains grounded after two fatal crashes. Air Arabia CEO Adel Ali said in February that he was considering a triple-digit jet deal with Airbus or Boeing to add destinations in Southeast Asia, Australia, Africa and Europe. He said earlier this month that the purchase should be decided by January. The company already ranks as the biggest discount carrier in the Persian Gulf and North Africa.<br/>