mirates, the Dubai-based airline, announced at the Dubai Air Show an order for 65 additional Boeing 777-9 aircraft, with a list-price value of approximately US$38 billion.
With this order, Emirates’ total on the 777X family now rises to 270 jets, making it Boeing’s largest customer for the model.
Emirates’ chairman and CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum described the agreement as “a long-term commitment that supports hundreds of thousands of high-value manufacturing jobs” and reaffirmed Emirates’ 40-year partnership with Boeing and GE.
Key points of the deal
- The 65 aircraft will be of the Boeing 777-9 variant (part of the 777X family).
- Deliveries are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2027.
- Though the list price is $38 billion, industry analysts note that major airlines typically negotiate substantial discounts.
- Emirates already has a substantial backlog of wide-body aircraft, and this order underlines its long-haul growth strategy via its Dubai hub. The Economic Times
- The deal further signals Emirates’ confidence in Boeing despite ongoing delays with the 777X programme.
Implications for the aviation industry
- For Boeing: This contract offers a vital vote of confidence from one of its key customers, boosting the 777X programme’s commercial outlook.
- For Emirates: The airline is doubling down on its long-haul, high-capacity business model, positioning for growth in passenger traffic through its hub at Dubai International Airport.
- For competitors (notably Airbus): The order further deepens the competitive gap in wide-body orders and may pressure Airbus to refine its offerings and price deals.
- For the Middle East aviation sector: A major commitment of this magnitude reinforces Dubai’s status as a global aviation centre and may influence supplier and manufacturing dynamics in the region.
What to watch next
- The actual delivery timeline and whether Boeing meets the 2027 target.
- Any conversions or options embedded in the order (e.g., whether Emirates might convert some of the 777-9 orders to other models or variants).
- How Emirates integrates the new fleet into its route network, and whether this triggers further fleet retirements or cabin upgrades.
- Reaction in aftermarket aircraft financing and leasing markets, as such orders affect supply/demand dynamics.
