A major Mideast Gulf airline made a major news this morning at the Dubai Air Show.
Emirates ordered 90 777X aircraft, comprising 55 777-9 and 35 777-8. Emirates' 777X backlog now stands at 205 aircraft. Emirates has made its widebody fleet an art form to compete with Etihad and The Apartment.
“Emirates is the biggest operator of Boeing 777 aircraft, and today's order cements that position,” said Emirates Airlines and Group Chairman and CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
Since the 777 program began, we've been directly engaged till this current generation of 777X aircraft. Emirates' fleet and network plan of nonstop Dubai flights from all continents relies on the 777.
“We are pleased to extend our relationship alongside Boeing and look forward to the first 777-9 joining our fleet in 2025,” said Saeed Al Maktoum.
Boeing and Emirates began working together in 1992 with Emirates' first 777 purchase. Emirates operates almost 150 777 planes.
"This order is an incredible vote of trust for Boeing's highly efficient widebody family and the versatility of our 777X and 787 airplanes to meet Emirates' global long-haul travel needs," said Boeing Commercial aircraft president and CEO Stan Deal.
"The 777-9 and 777-8 are the perfect airplanes for assisting Emirates' growth, improving environmental performance with unmatched payload capability along the way."
Boeing believes the 777-9 will be the biggest, most fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft and have the lowest operating cost per seat. Two-class 777-9s seat 426 people and have a range of 7,295 nautical miles.
The 777-8 can fly 8,745 nautical miles with 395 people. Emirates renewed its codeshare with United Airlines this September.