The Dubai Airshow will start next week when airlines will seek to order more jets to modernise their fleet, meet strong travel demand and secure production slots, but the volume of deals is set to be more moderate than in previous years.

Analysts say the size and number of commercial jet orders this year are unlikely to hit the record highs of previous air shows as manufacturers grapple with supply chain bottlenecks, certification delays and decade-long backlogs.

Dubai's high-profile aerospace pageant is a pivotal event for Middle East airlines, not always for flashy mega-orders but also strategic, smaller purchases, industry experts said.

"Right now airlines are caught between record travel demand and record delivery delays," Richard Maslen, head of analysis at Capa Centre for Aviation, told The National.

"I would expect a mix of pragmatism and urgency: carriers may order smartly, not wildly, but they’ll fight to secure production slots that stretch well into the 2030s."

The supply chain dynamics will remain "the invisible hand" guiding the size and timing of each deal, he added.

The air show presents a "mixed picture", John Strickland, a UK-based aviation analyst and director of JLS Consulting, said.

On one hand, airlines are facing capacity constraints due to jet delivery delays and aircraft grounded because of engine issues, he said. On the other, several airlines have already placed large orders at the last show and these are yet to be delivered, compounded by a seven-year wait for Boeing's long-delayed 777-9 wide-body.

"I expect a broadly positive outlook at the air show, though we may not