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HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, looks on as HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group (front centre); Jim Albaugh, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes (left) and David Joyce, President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Aviation (right) take part in the signing ceremony at the Dubai Air Show |
UAE. In ordering a total of 70 Boeing aircraft valued at US$26 billion at this week’s Dubai Air Show, Emirates has placed the single largest aircraft order in dollar value in the US manufacturer’s history. The order includes 50 777-300 ER aircraft worth around US$18 billion, and a further 20 options at US$8 billion.
Emirates runs the world’s largest fleet of 777s in service, at 95. A further 40 are already on the order books, meaning that the airline has now made a firm order of 90 777-300 ERs.
The latest order was signed on Sunday during a ceremony at the Dubai Air Show by Emirates Airline and Group Chairman and Chief Executive HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum and Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh. The ceremony was witnessed by Emirates President Tim Clark and Executive Vice President Adel al Redha.
“With 61 777 300-ERs currently in service, this record breaking dollar value order is another milestone for Emirates and affirms our strategy to expand our long-haul destinations and continue to excel as a world leading carrier, connecting the world to Dubai and beyond,” said HH Sheikh Ahmed. “The Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft plays a pivotal role in Emirates’ development of a modern fleet to meet the demand for global air travel for the future.”
Boeing’s Albaugh added: “This is an extremely proud moment for us as it not only underscores Emirates’ ongoing confidence in the 777 but also makes this the single largest order in dollar value in Boeing’s history. As the largest operator of the 777 in the world, Emirates has played an important role in development of the airplane and its input over the years has been invaluable in the development of the 777 programme.”
The latest order ensures that Emirates remains on track to become one of the world’s largest airlines. In addition to the 50 777-300 ERs announced today, Emirates has 73 Airbus A380s, 70 Airbus A350s, 40 777-300 ERs and six Boeing freighters on order, for a total of 239 wide-body aircraft worth more than US$92 billion.
