His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, signed an order for 65 additional Boeing 777-9 aircraft equipped with GE 9X engines, valued at $38 billion (approximately 140 billion dirhams) on the first day of the Dubai Airshow.
This announcement brings Emirates’ total orders with Boeing to 315 wide-body aircraft, which includes 270 Boeing 777-9s, 10 F777 freighters, and 35 787 aircraft.
Furthermore, Emirates’ total orders for GE9X engines with GE Aerospace has risen to 540 engines, including the 130 additional engines ordered yesterday. This reflects a long-term commitment to the aerospace sector in the U.S., which supports hundreds of thousands of high-value industrial jobs across the country.
The agreement with Boeing also significantly advances the feasibility study for developing the larger 777-10 model within the 777X family, as the airline has signed options to convert its new 777-9 orders to 777-10 or 777-8 models.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum stated, “Emirates is the largest operator of Boeing 777 aircraft globally, and we continue to reinforce our commitment by ordering 65 additional 777-9s worth $38 billion.
In addition, we have ordered 130 GE9X engines. This investment extends our deep partnership with Boeing and GE Aerospace, providing critical support to the U.S. aerospace industry.”
He added, “Each aircraft in this order was selected based on precise criteria to ensure alignment with Emirates’ future roadmap and the demands of our expanding global network in line with Dubai’s development plans.
Maintaining a modern and advanced fleet remains a vital part of our strategy, and we will continue to work closely with Boeing to ensure that we receive our first 777-9 by the second quarter of 2027, outfitting our fleet with the latest innovations and cabin products that reinforce Emirates’ leadership position in the industry.” Regarding the 777-10 options, he commented:
“Emirates constantly affirms its need for larger and more efficient aircraft to support its operations and global network, especially amid anticipated growth in air travel and increasing constraints at international airports. We view Boeing’s development of the 777-10 as a significant step toward meeting the requirements of global carriers.
We fully support this initiative. We have already signed options to convert our new orders from the 777-9 to the 777-10 or 777-8 to align with our future plans and long-term strategies.”
Stephanie Pope, Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ CEO, remarked, “We are honored that Emirates has chosen the Boeing 777X once again to lead its future plans as it renews its global fleet and expands its international network.
For over 40 years, Boeing has proudly supported Emirates’ journey, helping it become one of the world’s leading airlines renowned for excellence and innovation. We look forward to strengthening our partnership and ensuring Emirates continues to operate Boeing aircraft for many years to come.”
Russell Stokes, President and CEO of GE Aerospace’s Engines and Services, stated, “We are proud to deepen our decades-long partnership with Emirates as we continue to develop the future of aviation together. As the world’s largest customer for GE90 and GP7200 engines, the additional order for GE9X engines reflects Emirates’ confidence in our technology and team.
We are fully prepared to support Emirates in every aspect to help them make the most of the efficiency and durability provided by our leading solutions and services.”
Over its four-decade history, Emirates has operated various models of the 777 family powered by GE90 engines, managing the largest fleet of these aircraft globally, including 119 777-300ERs, 10 777-200LRs, and 11 freighters. These aircraft connect Dubai to over 140 cities, facilitating trade and travel across six continents. With the new order, aircraft deliveries from Boeing to Emirates are expected to continue until 2038.
This long-term commitment helps to sustain thousands of skilled professionals involved in the manufacturing and assembly of the 777X aircraft and GE9X engines in numerous U.S. states such as Alabama, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.