Emirates places US$ 52 billion wide-body aircraft order at Dubai Airshow 2023
Emirates kicked off the Dubai Airshow 2023 by announcing a substantial order for an additional 95 wide-body aircraft, bolstering its existing order book to a grand total of 295 aircraft.
As the world's largest operator of wide-body passenger planes, Emirates has committed to acquiring more Boeing 777-9s, 777-8s, and 787s, representing a total investment of $52 billion. This strategic move is aimed at facilitating the airline's expansion plans, ensuring a contemporary and efficient fleet, and delivering an exceptional flying experience to its passengers.
The order signing ceremony was graced by the presence of prominent dignitaries, including HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and HH Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council. The agreements were formally inked by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and Group, along with Stan Deal, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and Larry Culp, Chairman and CEO of GE, and CEO of GE Aerospace.
HH Sheikh Ahmed expressed, "Emirates' fundamental approach has always been to operate contemporary and efficient wide-body aircraft capable of safely and comfortably transporting large numbers of travelers over long distances, to and through Dubai. The aircraft orders announced today underscore our commitment to this strategy."
He continued, "These additional aircraft will enable Emirates to establish connections with even more cities, aligning with Dubai's economic agenda to add 400 cities to its foreign trade map over the next decade, as set out by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. By the early 2030s, we anticipate our Emirates fleet to consist of approximately 350 aircraft, further expanding Dubai's global connectivity."
Regarding Emirates' Boeing order, the airline, already holding the title of the world's largest Boeing 777 operator, has confirmed firm orders for 55 additional 777-9s and 35 777-8s, resulting in a total 777-X order of 205 units. Furthermore, Emirates has affirmed its commitment to procure 202 GE9X engines to power the newly ordered 777X aircraft, bringing its total GE9X engine order to 460 units.
The first 777-9 from the previous order is anticipated to join Emirates' fleet in 2025. With the latest orders, Emirates will continue to incorporate new 777-9s into its fleet until 2035. Additionally, Emirates is poised to become one of the inaugural customers for the 777-8 passenger variant, with the initial deliveries slated for 2030.
HH Sheikh Ahmed emphasized, "Emirates holds the distinction of being the largest operator of Boeing 777 aircraft, and this latest order solidifies our position. We have been closely engaged with the 777 program since its inception, up to this latest generation of 777X aircraft. The 777 has been at the core of Emirates' fleet and network strategy, enabling non-stop connections from Dubai to cities on every continent. We are delighted to extend our partnership with Boeing and eagerly anticipate the introduction of the first 777-9 into our fleet in 2025."
Stan Deal, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, added, "This order reflects immense confidence in the efficiency and adaptability of the 777X family to meet Emirates' global long-haul travel needs. The 777-9 and 777-8 are the ideal aircraft to support Emirates' growth ambitions, offering improved environmental performance and unrivaled payload capacity."
The Boeing 777 remains the cornerstone of Emirates' operations, capable of flying missions of up to 18 hours, enabling the airline to establish non-stop connections between Dubai and cities on six continents. The new 777-9s and 777-8s will replace Emirates' retiring 777 aircraft and support the airline's future expansion.
Emirates has also updated its previous order for 30 Boeing 787-9s, increasing its commitment to a total of 35 Dreamliners, comprising 15 Boeing 787-10s and 20 Boeing 787-8s.
