By Ben Otto
Emirates Airline will buy 95 widebody jets from Boeing, moving to expand its fleet of long-haul jets in the coming years to meet rising demand for global travel.
The Dubai-based carrier has placed fresh orders for 55 of the U.S. aircraft maker’s 777-9 jets, 35 777-8 jets and five 787 Dreamliner jets, Boeing and Emirates said Monday.
Emirates said the jets were worth $52 billion. The companies didn’t disclose the financial details of the transaction, but buyers typically receive steep discounts in such orders.
The order will expand Emirates’ 777X backlog to 205 jets and take its 787 order book to 35 jets. The airline is the biggest operator of Boeing 777 aircraft globally, with almost 150 currently in its fleet.
The 777-9 seats 426 passengers in a typical configuration and has a range of 13,510 kilometers, while the 777-8 seats 395 passengers and can fly up to 16,190 kilometers, according to Boeing. The aircraft, which has been delayed for years amid regulatory setbacks and other challenges, is a refresh of a best-selling model that first flew in 1994.
The news of the orders was unveiled at a signing event at the Dubai Airshow.
Write to Ben Otto at [email protected]
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