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Emirates Confirms $9 Billion Widebody Deal with Boeing
Emirates Airline has confirmed a new order for 30 777-300ER widebody aircraft from US manufacturer Boeing at the UK’s Farnborough Air Show.
The deal is worth $9.1bn at current list prices, and adds to the Dubai carrier’s fleet of 71 of the same type, of which 53 jets are currently in service.
Emirates is the world’s largest operator of 777s and this latest order, adding to 71 777-300ERs previously ordered, affirms Emirates’ strategy to become a world leading carrier and to further establish Dubai as a central gateway to worldwide air travel,” said Emirates chairman and CEO Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum.
“Our latest deal signals Emirates’ confidence in the growth of the thriving aviation sector and our commitment to building a modern, environmentally efficient fleet for tomorrow,” he added.
In addition to the jets announced today, Emirates also has 79 A380s, 70 A350s and seven Boeing 777 freighters on order with a total list price of more than $67bn, the airline said today.
“Emirates is today one of the world’s leading airlines thanks in part to the 777. Its ambitious expansion plans have established itself as a global force in the aviation sector,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
“Emirates has played an important role in the 777’s success with its significant support of the program and valuable feedback over the years. Today’s order serves to underscore the airline’s confidence in the airplane, which forms the mainstay of its fleet.”
The new contract comes only six weeks after the carrier ordered an extra 32 A380s from Airbus in a bid to attract more intercontinental traffic through its hub at Dubai International Airport.
Emirates also reported a profit of $964m during the 2009-10 financial year, in a period where the global airline industry lost billions.
Ed Attwood
Arabian Business.com