First Major Order of Dubai Airshow 2025: Emirates Signs $38 Billion Deal for 65 Additional Boeing 777X Aircraft
Dubai Airshow 2025 kicked off with a record-breaking order the industry hasn’t seen in years. Emirates has reached an agreement with Boeing for 65 additional Boeing 777-9s, in a deal valued at $38 billion. With this new order, Emirates’ total aircraft orders from Boeing have risen to 315, while its orders for the 777X family alone have climbed to 270.
One of the key aspects of the agreement is that it includes options allowing the orders to be converted later into the 777-8 or the proposed 777-10 model. This provides significant backing for Boeing’s research into a larger-capacity variant of the 777X family. Emirates is executing this strategy in alignment with its long-term fleet renewal plans and Dubai’s aviation growth targets.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, commented: “Considering the projected growth in passenger traffic and the capacity constraints at airports, it has long been clear that airlines need higher-capacity and more efficient aircraft. We support Boeing’s feasibility studies for the 777-10, and we have secured the necessary options to convert our 777-9 orders into the 777-10 or 777-8 models.”
The engine side of the order also expanded. With 130 additional GE9X engines, Emirates now holds a total of 540 GE9X orders, making it the world’s largest GE engine customer for the 777X family.
Emirates is already the world’s largest operator of Boeing 777 aircraft, with 119 777-300ERs, 10 777-200LRs, and 11 777Fs currently in its fleet. Deliveries of the newly ordered aircraft will continue through 2038, while Boeing is expected to begin the first 777-9 deliveries in the second quarter of 2027.
