DUBAI: Emirates airline announced a US$52 billion order for 95 Boeing planes today in the biggest sale so far at the Dubai Airshow.
A purchase of 55 Boeing 777-9s and 35 777-8s comes alongside an upgrade to an existing order for 30 787 Dreamliners, which has since risen to 35.
“This order represents a significant investment that demonstrates Dubai’s commitment to the future of aviation,” Emirates’ chief executive officer Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum told a press conference.
Separately, budget carrier flydubai announced an order for 30 Boeing 787-9s.
With the latest deal, Emirates’ order book rises to 295 planes including 205 777X aircraft. The Middle East’s biggest airline also ordered 202 GE9X engines to power its 777X fleet.
The 777-9s are expected for delivery in 2025 and the 777-8s are scheduled for 2030, Sheikh Ahmed said.
Also at the airshow today, Boeing announced an order of 45 737 MAX aircraft from budget carrier SunExpress, while speculation is swirling about Turkish Airlines after reports that it was poised to book about 350 aircraft.
A bumper week of deals would underline the sector’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, which caused havoc as international travel ground to a halt.
Last week, Emirates Group announced record half-year net profits of US$2.7 billion), up 138% from a year earlier, driven by strong demand.
The company unveiled record annual profits of US$3 billion in May.
The Middle East’s biggest airline posted a US$5.5 billion loss in Covid-ravaged 2020-2021, its first in more than three decades, after grounding its fleet and making heavy layoffs.
Its losses shrank to US$1.1 billion in 2021-2022.
