Emirates makes history with largest ever aircraft order, worth $34.9 billion

Our Corporate Bureau
15 November 2007

Dubai: Emirates Airlines has announced a historic civil aviation aircraft order, saying it had signed contracts for 120 Airbus A350s, 11 A380s, and 12 Boeing 777-300ERs. The total order will be worth an estimated $34.9 billion in list prices. HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Emirates' chairman and chief executive, announced the massive order at the 10th Dubai Air Show.

Other signatories were Tom Enders, Airbus' president and CEO, and Lee Monson, vice president, Middle East and Africa sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

The agreement with Airbus comprises firm orders for 50 A350-900s and 20 A350-1000s, plus 50 options for the A350-900s. The first A350 will be delivered to Emirates in 2014.

In total, Emirates' firm aircraft and engine orders announced today are worth US$23.4 billion - a value that will increase to $34.9 billion if the 50 options are included. This is the largest number of aircraft ever ordered at one go by any airline in the history of civil aviation.

Emirates also firmed up orders on eight A380s, for which it had signed letters of intent earlier this year, and placed firm orders for an additional three of the double-decker aircraft, bringing its total firm order for the A380s to 58.

The contract with Boeing is for 12 firm orders of the 777-300ERs, valued at US$3.2 billion. With this new order, Emirates now has 57 Boeing 777s pending delivery and will become the world's largest 777 operator over the next few years.