Boeing has logged a massive new order for widebody aircraft from Emirates involving 65 new 777X jets with a reported value of $38 billion. At that amount it will be equal to Boeing’s highest-value booking this year, matching a May order from Qatar Airways.
The 777X is a twin-engine, long-range aircraft that is a modernized version of the current 777, offering improved fuel efficiency while also incorporating the more spacious passenger cabin achieved with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.
Dubai-based Emirates specializes in high-volume international service, and the new order is its third for the forthcoming Boeing 777X, bringing its total commitment to that aircraft series to 270 aircraft, with an overall value estimated at $146 billion.
However, the delivery dates for the new aircraft remains unknown, as the new aircraft remains in Boeing’s development pipeline. Boeing currently projects the 777X to make a commercial debut in 2027.
As the twin-engine 777X will be powered by the GE Aerospace GE9x high-bypass turbofan engines, Emirates also committed to acquire 130 more of those power units. It’s total take from GE Aerospace for the 777X jets will be 540 engines.
The airline’s future commitments confirm Boeing’s commercial market outlook from earlier this year, when it estimated widebody aircraft demand in the Middle East region at 3,000 new jets through 2045.
"Emirates is already the world's largest Boeing 777 operator, and we are expanding our commitment to the program today with additional orders for 65 Boeing 777-9s," stated the airline group’s chairman and CEO Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, adding: "Each of our aircraft on order have been carefully factored into Emirates' growth plan, which is aligned to Dubai's growth plans."
Al Maktoum also called the airline’s new order as "a long-term commitment to our partnership with Boeing and to U.S. aerospace."
Emirates total order backlog with Boeing includes 315 wide-body aircraft. In addition to the 270 777Xs, it is due to receive 10 777 freighters and 35 Boeing 787s.
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Robert Brooks
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Robert Brooks has been a business-to-business reporter, writer, editor, and columnist for more than 20 years, specializing in the primary metal and basic manufacturing industries.