Emirates, the world's largest long-haul airline, has placed a $38 billion order for an additional 65 Boeing 777-9 aircraft, giving the US plane maker a much-needed boost shortly after the plane's debut was further postponed to 2027.
It also ordered 130 of GE Aerospace's GE9X engines that power the twin-engined planes, Emirates said on the first day of the Dubai Airshow on Monday.
“This is a massive long-term commitment to US aerospace manufacturing, generating support for hundreds of thousands of high value manufacturing jobs in the US over the life of the programmes,” Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline group, said at a press conference during the show taking place in Dubai World Central.
When asked how Boeing managed to convince Emirates to buy more of the long-delayed 777X models, Brad McMullen, the company's senior vice president of Global Sales and Marketing, told the The National: “I don’t think there was any convincing that needed to be done, frankly. They’ve committed to the 777-9. Their future depends on it. Our future depends on Emirates. When two parties depend on each other, you can normally find a way to do more business.”
Meanwhile, the Emirates boss also said the airline has the option to convert the order to the 777-10, a larger variant that’s still under development.
“We fully support Boeing’s feasibility study to develop the 777-10 and have options to convert our latest 777-9 order to the 777-10 or the 777-8,” Sheikh Ahmed said.
Boeing is just starting the feasibility study, Mr McMullen said. "We’ve committed that we’re going to study it and that’s what we’re going to do. It’s probably no secret that Emirates has wanted a bigger aircraft to replace the A380s and we’re going to see if that’s our plane. We’re going to take a hard look at it."
Monday's deal takes Emirates' total order book with Boeing to 315 wide-body aircraft, comprising 270 Boeing 777Xs, 10 777 freighters and 35 of the 787 Dreamliners. Its order book with GE Aerospace for GE9X engines rose to a total of 540 units, including the 130 additional units signed on Monday.
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A display by the Airbus 350 at the Dubai Airshow. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The event is attracting lots of delegates to Al Maktoum International Airport -
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and chief executive of Emirates airline and group, at a media conference at the event -
The Rafale fighter jet is worth a watch as it takes to the skies above Dubai -
Brad McMullen, left, from Boeing and Yankoba Dieme from Air Senagal sign an agreement -
An air defence system on display -
The UAE's Al Fursan aerobatic team put on a display -
Emirates cabin crew arrive -
The Omen drone is displayed at the Edge stand -
Visitors arrive for the event, which is pivotal for airlines in the Middle East -
Abu Dhabi's Edge is among the companies exhibiting technology at the event -
A turboprop engine. Companies use the event to meet plane makers, engine manufacturers and seat suppliers -
Visitors take a closer look at an Emirates Boeing 777 -
A model of a MAH-1 Marine attack helicopter. It is among the aircraft in the spotlight at the exhibition -
A spacesuit worn by SpaceX astronauts -
Model rockets at the Innospace stand. Space technology is in focus at the air show
Emirates will continue working closely with Boeing to receive delivery of its first 777-9s from the second quarter of 2027, Sheikh Ahmed said.
The airline's growth plans have been clipped by the seven-year delay in the 777X programme.
John Strickland, a UK-based aviation analyst and director of JLS Consulting, said Emirates “remains frustrated” by delays to existing 777-X deliveries.
But the additional order “underlines confidence in what the aircraft will deliver for Emirates and the need to beef up the numbers looking ahead to the next decade, when A380s begin to depart the fleet”, he told The National.
Emirates is already the biggest customer of the 777X, with 270 units on order. Monday's agreement is the airline's third order of the aircraft.
The world's biggest international airline threw its weight behind the 777X despite delays, amid a lack of viable options to replace the A380 superjumbo that has ceased production. Emirates has said it will continue to fly its double-deckers until early 2040.
“After Airbus stopped making the A380s, Boeing 777 is the biggest commercial airplane,” Sheikh Ahmed said.
“Some people may have doubts about Emirates’ huge backlog of aircraft orders, but I assure you each and every aircraft of ours has been carefully factored into Emirates’ growth plans,” Sheikh Ahmed said. “As an airline, we are lucky to be based here.”
The airline will be expecting Boeing aircraft deliveries up to 2038.
Stephanie Pope, president and chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said the order “further cements Emirates’ position as the 777X’s largest customer”.
Separately, Emirates' sister airline flydubai on Monday announced an order for 60 GEnx-1B engines to power the airline first wide-body fleet of 30 Boeing 787-9. It had placed the plane order at the Dubai Airshow in 2023.
"The performance and durability of our engines play an integral role in the success of our operations and fleet expansion plans, especially as we prepare to welcome the Boeing 787 aircraft to our fleet in the coming years,” said Ghaith Al Ghaith, chief executive of flydubai.
Boeing's 2025 Commercial Market Outlook projects sustained Middle East demand for wide-body aeroplanes. The region is expected to need nearly 3,000 new wide-body jets over the next 20 years.
The pact on Monday gives the US plane maker an advantage over its European arch-rival Airbus on the first day of the Middle East's largest air show.
A Boeing air show?
In another boost for Boeing, Ethiopian Airlines on Monday confirmed an order for 11 new Boeing 737 Max-8 planes.
The airline runs the largest Boeing fleet in Africa and has the largest backlog of 737 Max planes, 777X and 787 Dreamliners on the continent.
Ethiopian is also actively evaluating additional wide-body orders from both Airbus and Boeing, Ethiopian Airlines group chief executive Mesfin Tasew said at the air show.
Also on Monday, Air Senegal ordered nine 737-Max 8 planes, with rights to buy six more.
Yankhoba Dieme, Senegal's Minister for Infrastructure, Land and Air, said this was their first deal with Boeing in 21 years.
