Emirates Places Massive Order For Boeing 777X at Dubai Airshow

Emirates has increased the backlog of its Boeing 777X aircraft to 205, with the airline ordering 90 777X aircraft during the Dubai Airshow 2023. The deal also includes a rejig of its Boeing 787 order book, with the airline now planning to take delivery of a total of 35 Boeing 787s: 20 787-8 and 15 787-10 aircraft. The Dubai International Airport (DXB)-based airline was one of the first airlines to order the aircraft, signing up for 150 777Xs during the Dubai Airshow in November 2013. The order was finalized in July 2014 and included 50 additional options for the 777X.

Adding more 777X orders

Initially, Emirates ordered 150 Boeing 777X aircraft, split between 115 777-9 and 35 777-8. However, the latest Boeing Orders & Deliveries data showed that the carrier has 115 unfilled orders for the 777X, in addition to five orders for the 777F and 30 for the Boeing 787-9.

The newest order includes 55 777-9 and 777-8 aircraft, with deliveries of the former starting in 2025. Meanwhile, Emirates expects Boeing to deliver the first 777-8 in 2030. Boeing has previously said that the manufacturer hoped to make the first delivery of the 777X in 2025, with the plane maker gradually resuming production of the type in 2023 since it was paused in April 2022. Boeing said that the full production of the 777X should resume in Q4 2023.

Photo: Tom Boon | Simple Flying

Emirates adding Boeing 787 aircraft

Speaking to airliners.de before the Dubai Airshow, Tim Clark, the President of Emirates, said that the airline was still interested in taking deliveries of the 787, especially as it eyes a move to Dubai’s other airport, Al Maktoum International Airport or Dubai World Central (DWC). Now, the airline has re-adjusted its backlog for the 787, which previously only included 30 orders for the 787-9. With the latest order with Boeing, Emirates is now scheduled to take delivery of a total of 35 aircraft of the type, split between 20 Boeing 787-8 and 15 Boeing 787-10,

Meanwhile, at the time of the initial 777X order, Clark said that the newest Boeing 777 aircraft family member would “offer us operational flexibility in terms of range, more passenger capacity and fuel efficiency.” At the time, Clark said the airline was looking forward to introducing it in 2020.

Read more: Emirates Reaffirms The Airbus A380 Will Fly Until The 2040s With No Suitable Replacement