Emirates set to connect Dubai to more cities than ever before
Emirates opened the Dubai Airshow 2023 today with a significant order for 95 additional wide-body aircraft, taking its total order book to 295 aircraft.
Already the world’s biggest operator of wide-body passenger aircraft, Emirates has committed to additional Boeing 777-9s, 777-8s, and 787s. The order is worth US$ 52 billion and will power Emirates’ growth plans. It will enable the airline to maintain a modern efficient fleet, and deliver the best flying experience to its customers.
In the presence of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and Deputy Ruler of Dubai and HH Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council; the orders were signed by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group; with Stan Deal, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes; and Larry Culp, Chairman and CEO for GE, and CEO of GE Aerospace.
HH Sheikh Ahmed said: “From day 1, Emirates’ business model has been to operate modern and efficient wide-body aircraft capable of carrying large numbers of travellers comfortably and safely, over long distances to and via Dubai. Today’s aircraft orders reflect that strategy.
“These additional aircraft will enable Emirates to connect even more cities, supporting the Dubai economic agenda D33 set out by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to add 400 cities to Dubai’s foreign trade map over the next decade. By the early 2030s, we expect the Emirates fleet to be around 350-strong, connecting Dubai to even more cities around the world.”
Emirates’ Boeing order
Emirates, already the world’s largest operator of Boeing 777 aircraft, has signed firm orders for 55 additional 777-9s and 35 777-8s. This takes the airline’s 777-X order book to a total of 205 units.
Emirates also confirmed an order of 202 GE9X engines to power the additional 777X aircraft ordered today, taking its total GE9X engine order to 460 units.
From its previous order of 115 units, the first 777-9 is expected to join Emirates’ fleet in 2025. Today’s additional orders mean Emirates will induct new 777-9s to its fleet until 2035.
With this latest order, Emirates is also set to be one of the launch customers of the 777-8 passenger variant, with first deliveries expected in 2030.
HH Sheikh Ahmed said: “Emirates is the biggest operator of Boeing 777 aircraft, and today’s order cements that position. We’ve been closely involved in the 777 program since its start up until this latest generation of 777X aircraft. The 777 has been central to Emirates’ fleet and network strategy of connecting cities on all continents non-stop to Dubai. We are pleased to extend our relationship with Boeing and look forward to the first 777-9 joining our fleet in 2025.”
“This order is an incredible vote of confidence in the efficiency and versatility of the 777X family to meet Emirates’ needs for global long-haul travel,” said Stan Deal, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The 777-9 and 777-8 are the perfect airplanes to support Emirates’ growth plans, improving environmental performance and unmatched payload capability.”
The 777 remains the backbone of Emirates’ operations, capable of missions of up to 18 hours that enable the airline to connect Dubai non-stop to cities on six continents. The new 777-9s and 777-8s will replace Emirates’ retiring 777 aircraft, and provision for the airline’s future growth plans.
Emirates has also updated its previous order of 30 Boeing 787-9s, increasing its commitment to a total of 35 Dreamliners comprising: 15 Boeing 787-10s, and 20 Boeing 787-8s.
About Emirates
Emirates currently operates an all wide-body fleet of efficient and modern aircraft, comprising the iconic Airbus A380 and the popular Boeing 777. From its hub in Dubai, the airline serves over 140 cities on six continents, offering award-winning inflight and on ground services.
Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.
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That’s good news. I enjoy flying with Emirates. If I’ve got a long haul flight I find a break after 7 hours in Dubai is very welcome. Stretch my legs for a couple of hours then settle into the next leg.
When I first went to Dubai on business in 1998 – and flew with Emirates – friends didn’t have a clue as to where I was going and who I was flying with. Everything was so quiet that I even got upgraded to Business Class. Everything in Dubai is a lot busier now.
Emirates are probably my favourite airline. The only problem is that they are other people’s favourite too. Dubai Airport is getting like Heathrow you can get stuck in a stack over the Arabian Gulf.
Back in the 1970s and 1990s very few people who called into Dubai would have foreseen that it would become the thriving Emirate that it is today.
The vision shown by the government and Emirates airlines has been incredible. Reading this post it’s clear that they still have a bold vision of where they want to go next.
That $52 billion order book is probably more than the annual expenditure of the governments of some of the world’s smaller and poorer countries. What an incredible stat?!?
I can’t help wondering whether that order of 95 aircraft is more planes than some countries have in their airforce.
I’m not surprised at Emirates’ success. they’ve never let me down. In fact, they’ve been very impressive at times. Whenever I fly I go into my own little world enjoying the in-flight entertainment and occasionally rejoining the world for food and drink. Emirates always tick the boxes on both of those.
Pleased to read that, it pretty much tallies with my own experiences of flying with Emirates. They’ve always been good even when there have been delays or things have not quite gone to plan. That’s always a mark of a good airline, that they react quickly.
Definitely one of the best airlines in the world, together with Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways. The product, the offer, the routes, the guest experience… almost 10 out of 10.