Arab’s largest airline Emirates today announced an order for 30 Boeing Co. 777-300ER aircraft valued at $9.1 billion. The decision is seen as an attempt by Emirates to expand its fleet of long-range jets. The airline announced the order during the Farnborough Air Show in the U.K. Of the 30 planes, the order for 18 was placed before and the Boeing has listed it in its backlog as coming from an undisclosed customer.
The Emirates had already ordered 71 777-300ERs previously, out of which 53 aircraft are now in service. The deal with Boeing, which is based in Chicago, US, follows a deal last month ink between Emirates and Airbus SAS to acquire 32 additional A380 superjumbos.
“The order affirms Emirates’ strategy to become a world leading carrier and to further establish Dubai as a central gateway to worldwide air travel,” Emirates Chairman Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum said in an e-mailed statement. “Our latest deal signals Emirates’ confidence in the growth of the thriving aviation sector,” added the statement.
Commenting on Emirates order, independent aviation analyst John Strickland told AFP, "The leasing companies are looking, to not only an upturn in Western European and US markets, but they are also seeing the opportunity in emerging markets." According to experts, Middle Eastern carriers like Dubai-based Emirates and Qatar Airways Ltd. Are now in expansion mode and are among the biggest buyers of commercial aircraft. According to Airbus, Emirates, which is the largest operator of Boeing 777s, now has the potential to reach 95 percent of the world’s population from Dubai on an A380.
