Emirates Orders 95 Boeing Wide-body Aircraft Worth $52 Billion

A Boeing 777X aircraft on aerial display at the Dubai Airshow. Photo source: Emirates / Shutterstock

Emirates made a significant order for 95 additional Boeing wide-body aircraft, taking its total order book to 295 aircraft, during the opening of the Dubai Airshow 2023 on Monday.

Already the world’s biggest operator of wide-body passenger aircraft, Emirates has committed to additional Boeing 777-9s, 777-8s, and 787s, worth US$ 52 billion, to power its growth plans, maintain a modern efficient fleet, and deliver the best flying experience to its customers.

“From day 1, Emirates’ business model has been to operate modern and efficient wide-body aircraft capable of carrying large numbers of travellers comfortably and safely, over long distances to and via Dubai. Today’s aircraft orders reflect that strategy,” said HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group.

The orders for 95 additional wide-body aircraft were signed by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group; with Stan Deal, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes; and Larry Culp, Chairman and CEO for GE, and CEO of GE Aerospace. Photo source: Emirates

Emirates, already the world’s largest operator of Boeing 777 aircraft, has signed firm orders for 55 additional 777-9s and 35 777-8s. This takes the airline’s 777-X order book to a total of 205 units.

The airline also confirmed an order of 202 GE9X engines to power the additional 777X aircraft ordered today, taking its total GE9X engine order to 460 units.

From its previous order of 115 units, the first 777-9 is expected to join Emirates’ fleet in 2025. Today’s additional orders mean Emirates will induct new 777-9s to its fleet until 2035.

With this latest order, Emirates is also set to be one of the launch customers of the 777-8 passenger variant, with first deliveries expected in 2030.

Photo source: Emirates

“These additional aircraft will enable Emirates to connect even more cities, supporting the Dubai economic agenda D33 set out by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to add 400 cities to Dubai’s foreign trade map over the next decade. By the early 2030s, we expect the Emirates fleet to be around 350-strong, connecting Dubai to even more cities around the world,” HH Sheikh Ahmed said.

The 777 remains the backbone of Emirates’ operations, capable of missions of up to 18 hours that enable the airline to connect Dubai non-stop to cities on six continents. The new 777-9s and 777-8s will replace Emirates’ retiring 777 aircraft, and provision for the airline’s future growth plans.

Emirates has also updated its previous order of 30 Boeing 787-9s, increasing its commitment to a total of 35 Dreamliners comprising: 15 Boeing 787-10s, and 20 Boeing 787-8s.