Aviation boost: Emirates places $38 bn order for 65 Boeing 777X jets; delivery to begin 2027
The new order takes Emirates’ total commitment for the upcoming 777-9 to 270 aircraft, cementing its position as Boeing’s largest customer for the wide-body jet, even as the programme faces repeated delays.
The agreement also includes GE Engines, bundled into the total deal value.Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates, described the buy as a vote of confidence in the long-term partnership with Boeing and GE.“It’s a long-term commitment that supports hundreds of thousands of high-value factory jobs, and it reinforces our 40-year partnership with Boeing and GE,” he said.
Emirates remains the world’s largest operator of the Boeing 777 fleet, all powered by GE engines.Sheikh Ahmed said he expected Emirates to remain the biggest 777 operator “for the years to come”, adding that airlines needed larger aircraft to keep pace with global travel growth.
He said the carrier looked forward to receiving its first 777-9 from the second quarter of 2027, pointedly glancing at Boeing as he mentioned the date.Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Stephanie Pope did not specify an entry-into-service timeline but said the jet would “further support Emirates’ mission to connect people and places around the globe like never before”.Officials took no questions from the media following the announcement.New deals and regional ordersBoeing also announced a series of additional orders at the event:
- Ethiopian Airlines placed a firm order for 11 Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft.
- Air Côte d’Ivoire confirmed an order for four Embraer E175 jets.
- Later, Air Senegal finalised an order for nine Boeing 787-8 MAX aircraft.
Dubai Air Show opens amid booming travel, military interestThe 2025 edition of the Air Show comes as Dubai witnesses unprecedented passenger volumes.
Emirates posted $5.2 billion in annual profit last fiscal, while Dubai International Airport continues to lead the world in international passenger traffic.Emirates ordered $52 billion worth of Boeing aircraft at last year’s show.
Sister carrier FlyDubai, which operates 95 Boeing 737 variants, is also expected to eye more single-aisle jets as it expands beyond its first wide-body order of 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners placed in 2023.Meanwhile, Dubai’s government has unveiled a $35-billion plan to expand Al Maktoum International Airport to five runways and 400 aircraft gates within a decade, creating enormous new fleet requirements for both carriers.The show is also set to showcase renewed interest in flying taxis, alongside strong military participation.Russia’s Rosoboronexport returned with a large pavilion despite Western sanctions.
The state arms exporter displayed the Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter and the Pantsir-SMD-E air defence system, products gaining fresh attention amid Middle East security concerns.Underscoring ongoing ties, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan began his tour at the Russian pavilion, viewing a video of a Russian drone strike and later inspecting the cockpit of the Su-57.US Air Force pilots from the 55th Fighter Squadron were also spotted examining the aircraft.
When asked whether the F-16s could shoot it down, one pilot smiled and replied: “It looks cool.”
