Emirates has taken delivery of its 146th – and final – Boeing 777-300ER in what can be seen as the end of an era for the airline, which has built its long-haul dominance around the model, alongside its fleet of Airbus A380s.
The plane will soon be superseded by Boeing 777-8s and 777-9s, labelled the "world's largest and most efficient twin-engine jets", which reached a major production milestone in early December and will be put into operation from 2020.
The first Boeing 777-300ER was delivered to Emirates in March 2005 and for 13 years it has been the “backbone” of the fleet, flying to more than 119 destinations.
“The aircraft’s efficiency, range and payload capabilities have enabled us to connect our customers across six continents to and through Dubai, and offer them a flight experience that is second to none,” Emirates Airline President Tim Clark said.
“The Boeing 777-300ER will continue to play an integral role in our operations and facilitating global tourism and trade opportunities in the years to come.”
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Emirates will start taking delivery of the Boeing 777-8s and 777-9s, collectively known as 777X from 2020. The design features bigger windows, higher ceilings and wider cabins – inspired by the 787 Dreamliner.
Earlier in December the three main fuselage sections of the first 777X were connected together at the Boeing facility in Everett, Washington in what is known as a "final body join".
The model has foldable wing tips, which enable an extended span of seven metres, maximising fuel efficiency.
Boeing says the model will have 12 per cent lower fuel consumption and 10 per cent lower operating costs than its competition.
