Shell was flying high at the last month's Dubai Airshow - on the wings of one of the world's most famous aerobatic aircraft. The Sukhoi Su-29, which took to the skies in the daily flying display, had been branded with the Shell pecten and the Shell Aviation strapline "Shell is Flying". The display was seen by more than 30,000 visitors to the last major Airshow of the Millennium. The aircraft was put through its breathtaking paces by South African flying aces Rehan Van Tonder and Peter Walker. "The Sukhoi Su-29 is the world's best purpose-designed aerobatic aeroplane. It is widely used all over the world for aerobatic flying displays, competition flying, instruction and general flying, and is regarded as the finest in its field, " said Rehan.

Shell Dubai Public Affairs manager Paddy Briggs commented "We were looking for a way to grab the attention of everyone attending the Airshow and to promote strongly Shell's aviation business. This unique (but very appropriate) use of Shell Aviation's strapline meant that none of the Airshow's thousands of visitors could have been in any doubt that Shell really is flying in Dubai !"

Shell has had a presence at Dubai International Airport since it opened in 1979. On the eve of the Airshow it won praise for its work with national flag carrier Emirates by HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and chairman of Emirates. In an exclusive interview given to "Shell in the Middle East" magazine he said "Fuel costs can amount to 35 per cent of an airline's expenditure. It is imperative to ensure that these costs are well managed and that the refuellers we use are reliable. I can certainly say that we have that assurance with Shell."