Emirates orders 65 Boeing 777-9, worth $38-B

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Opening of the recent Dubai Air Show was marked by the announcement of Emirates (state-owned UAE carrier) ordering 65 Boeing 777-9 aircraft, as the carrier looks to expand its fleet arising from record earnings and mounting demand for flights through the East-West travel hub.

Emirates valued the deal with Boeing and GE Engines at $38 billion at list prices, although airlines often negotiate lower prices in major orders.

The announcement brings the total of Boeing 777-9s on order for Emirates to 270, making it Boeing’s largest customer for this aircraft type, even as the plane suffered repeated delays in entering service. Emirates currently operates mainly the Airbus 380 and Boeing 777 It has also started flying Airbus 350s.

“It’s a long-term commitment that supports hundreds of thousands of high-value factory jobs, and it reinforces our 40-year partnership with Boeing and GE,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates chairman and chief executive.

“Emirates is already the world’s largest operator of the 777 — all powered by GE engines — and after today’s order, I expect to remain the biggest 777 operator for years to come.”

Sheikh Ahmed added Emirates continues to encourage manufacturers to build larger aircraft with more capacity as air travel is only expected to grow.

“We look forward to receiving delivery of our first 777-9s starting from the second quarter of 2027,” he said.

Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, offered no timeline for the plane’s entry to service. “The 777-9 will further support Emirates mission to connect people and places around the globe like never before,” she said.

Emirates, state-owned flagship airline of Dubai, earned annual profits of $5.2 billion in the last fiscal year and passenger numbers remain record-breaking at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel. The airline inked a $52-billion purchase of Boeing aircraft at the 2023 edition of the air show.

FlyDubai, low-cost subsidiary of Emirates, also achieved record-breaking earnings, and hopes to expand its narrow-body fleet of aircraft. The airline currently flies 95 Boeing 737 variants, with Airbus wanting to break into the carrier’s fleet. FlyDubai ordered $11 billion worth of 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners at the last air show, which when delivered will be the airline’s first wide-body aircraft.

Al Maktoum airport itself is on the agenda for Dubai’s government. It plans a $35-billion project to expand to five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates, to be completed within the next decade. The airport now has just two runways, like Dubai International Airport. Those additional slots coming online will help Emirates and FlyDubai grow their network, thus requiring more aircraft.