The Dubai-based Emirates airline has raised US$265 million (Dh973.4m) in Islamic financing to pay for two Boeing jets delivered earlier this summer. The transaction involves 12-year leases for the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The financing was arranged by Noor Islamic Bank, with participants including Barclays Capital, CCB International Finance, Samba Financial Group and Standard Chartered Bank. "Islamic financing provides competitive pricing with flexibility, which are both key elements in our financing strategy," said Brian Jeffery, Emirates' senior vice president of corporate treasury.
The delivery of these aircraft brings the airlines' passenger fleet to 111 aircraft. Emirates operates services to 101 cities in 60 countries. * National staff with Reuters