Hadn't seen this on the site yet, so I thought I'd resurrect this old thread and post it here.

Sunday November 20, 8:07 PM
Emirates orders 42 Boeing 777s

Photo: Reuters
Click to enlarge

DUBAI (Reuters) - Airline Emirates placed a $9.7 billion order for wide-bodied Boeing Co. 777 planes on Sunday in a deal that kicked off the Dubai air show and underscored the Gulf's surging airlines sector.
The deal for 42 planes included 10 777-200LR, 24 777-300ER, eight of the 777 freighter version and Emirates Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum told reporters the airline had agreed to take purchase rights for a further 20.

Boeing has now sold 106 of the twin-engined long-range 777 this year, one short of its best result, as high fuel prices spur sales of twin-engined versus four-engined models.

The airline will take delivery of the planes between 2007 and 2013, Emirates President Tim Clark told Reuters.

U.S. engine maker General Electric said it would provide the engines and maintenance for them for 12 years under a deal worth more than $2 billion.

Sheikh Ahmed said Emirates, one of the world's fastest
growing airlines, had yet to decide between the Airbus A350
and the Boeing 787 for its
requirements for new mid-sized planes.

"Regarding the 787 and the A350, we haven't decided yet which way we will go," he said.

Emirates has placed the largest order for the Airbus A380 due to enter service next year. The plane maker is now chasing orders for its newest model, the A350, due in 2010.

The Boeing aircraft deal was announced at the opening day of the Dubai airshow and eclipsed the total value of deals done at the same event two years ago.


These are additional to the other 777-300ER order of a few years ago. If it all comes to pass Emirates will be the biggest operator of 777s in the world, surpassing Singapore. The total would be around 93 777s.


TP