MEBAA: Air travel riding a new wave

Dornier hopes to have its new generation Seastar, an aircraft that was first developed in the 1980s, certified by the end of 2023 and in the skies with the first customer by the middle of 2024.

The company plans to produce 300 in the first 10 years.

The aircraft, backed by the Dornier family and two Chinese investment companies, will benefit from upgrades, including avionics and a corrosion-resistant composite structure, which Jurgen Heinrich, co-CEO of Dornier Seawings, said brought it firmly “into the 21st century”.

The Seastar, which seats 12 passengers and has a range of 900nm, has generated interest from customers in the Gulf, Caribbean and south-east Asia, with memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed with several undisclosed parties.

Heinrich added: “Covid gave us a setback in terms of our progress, but as we are approaching the finishing line, we are here at MEBAA showing the world our intentions. Now we are ready, now we are back.

“The flying boat is being reintroduced, and now is the time to go out to the market and turn our MoUs into firm orders.”

“Representing the pioneering spirit and heritage of Dornier is an honour,” said Richard Haas, CEO of Dubai-based Gulf Enterprises.

Ali Alnaqbi, executive chairman of MEBAA, said during the signing ceremony: “We are pleased that the Dornier legacy of flying boats is reaching our shores in the not-too-distant future to serve the diverse mission requirements of our ever-growing coastlines and islands.”