The national aerobatic display team of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) unveiled the impressive aerial performance capabilities of a new fleet of Chinese-developed advanced trainers as the Dubai Airshow 2025 got underway on Monday.
The five-day event, which is being held under the theme "The Future Is Here," has drawn more than 1,500 exhibitors, including 440 first-time participants.
Over 200 aircraft are on display, from commercial, military, and private jets to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and next-generation aviation technologies.
The opening day got off to a spectacular start as the Fursan al-Emarat (the Knights of the Emirates) display team wowed spectators with intricate flying formations and colorful smoke trails while demonstrating the stunning maneuverability of the Chinese jet trainers.
The seven twin-engine and two-seat Hongdu L-15 aircraft have been painted in a distinctive gold and black color scheme of the Knights, with the UAE flag painted on the underside of each wing.
The appearance of the new fleet marked the aerobatic team's first aircraft change since its creation in 2008, and the aircraft made a big impression on airshow attendees.
"How the airplanes are painted - gold, black and the flag under the wing, it's beautiful. It's amazing! And the jet noise is amazing! It's a whistle! It's amazing!" said Maurizio, a spectator from Italy.
"I know it's a new airplane. I know it's the first time they are displayed here in the UAE. I know it's [from] China," said Ahmed, another spectator from the UAE.
This year's Dubai Airshow has attracted some 148,000 trade visitors and is expected to be the largest in the biennial event's history.
UAE aerobatic team showcases China's advanced jet trainers at Dubai Airshow
The operational efficiency of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in south China's Guangdong Province has greatly improved following the launch of a new terminal and a new runway one month ago.
The airport officially put into operation its Terminal 3 and fifth runway on October 30, making it China's first civil airport to operate five commercial runways.
Terminal 3 features a range of self-service facilities, including check-in kiosks, automated baggage drop systems, and smart security screening equipment, which have greatly streamlined passenger processing.
Since its opening, five airlines have shifted their domestic operations to Terminal 3, which now handles an average of 158 flights and about 26,000 passengers daily.
"Compared with Terminal 1, both the number of staffed counters and self-service kiosks of Terminal 3 have increased significantly, greatly reducing the average check-in time for passengers. For domestic direct flights, the entire check-in process can be completed in a minimum of one minute," said Shi Mengyao, a staffer with the ground service department of the Guangdong branch of China Eastern Airlines.
Beyond efficiency improvements, the terminal also includes an observation deck that offers travelers panoramic views of the airfield.
"Since its opening, the observation deck attracts over 3,000 visitors per day on average, with total visits exceeding 100,000 to date," said Luo Li, deputy general manager of a terminal management company at Baiyun International Airport.
The airport's expansion also marks another step toward building a world-class airport cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
"The airport's expansion not only consolidates the Greater Bay Area as an aviation hub connecting China with the world, but also helps lower logistics costs within the area, promote the free flow and efficient allocation of economic resources, and enhances the area's capacity for global resource allocation," said Li Jing, chief planner with the Guangdong Provincial Department of Transport.
New terminal, runway boost operational efficiency of airport in Guangzhou
