Emirates Airline has finalised a US$56 billion order with Boeing, the biggest single order in aviation history.
The deal finalises an order for 150 777Xs, first announced as a commitment at the Dubai Airshow last year.
The announcement comes days before the start of the Farnborough International Airshow, traditionally used as a forum for big ticket plane purchases by global airlines.
The order – a combination of 115 777-9Xs and 35 777-8Xs – also includes purchase rights for an additional 50 airplanes that, if exercised, could increase value to approximately $75 billion at list prices.
“With the order for 150 777Xs, Emirates now has 208 Boeing 777s pending delivery, creating and securing jobs across the supply chain,” said Emirates president Sir Tim Clark in a joint statement. “Today Emirates operates more than one in every 10 Boeing 777s aircraft built.”
Design of the 777X is underway and production is set to begin in 2017, with first delivery targeted for 2020. There are about 300 orders and commitments for the plane from six customers worldwide.
Emirates Airline last month cancelled a $16 billion order for 70 A350 Airbus wide-bodied aircraft in what was a massive blow to the European plane maker.
Airbus said the cancellation had followed ongoing discussions with the airline in light of their fleet requirement review.
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