One of the most luxurious airlines in the world is making a significant expansion to its fleet. Dubai-based Emirates has just placed an order for 65 additional Boeing 777x widebody planes.
The additional aircraft, which will be 777-9 variants, are worth $38 billion USD and bring the airline’s total 777x order to 270 planes. Emirates says it will receive deliveries of the new 777x planes through 2038. The order was announced on the first day of the Dubai Airshow.
The airline says the new widebody planes are an important part of its overall future expansion.
“Each of our aircraft on order has been carefully factored into Emirates’ expansion plan, which is aligned to Dubai’s growth plans,” said Emirates chairman and CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. “Flying a young and modern fleet with innovative cabin products has always been a cornerstone of Emirates’ strategy, and we look forward to continue working closely with Boeing to receive delivery of our first 777-9s from Q2 of 2027, and to equip our latest aircraft with state-of-the-art, industry-leading onboard products.”
When Emirates receives its 777x planes, they will feature the carrier’s “Game Changer” first class suites, which offer floor-to-ceiling privacy doors, a new zero-gravity seat, and virtual windows that simulate the outdoor view in the center suites.
The suites began flying on Emirates’ 777-300ER planes back in 2017, but their availability remains scarce. When the 777x planes debut, more passengers will have the opportunity to book into the enviable cabin class.
However, the exact launch date for the new widebody jets remains in flux. Boeing’s 777x planes have been highly anticipated in the airline industry for years, with the ability to carry large numbers of passengers while offering a spacious cabin experience and a more efficient operation of 20% fewer emissions.
The aircraft’s rollout has experienced significant delays in the FAA certification process. The first 777x planes were originally slated to launch in 2020. Now, the first of the beleaguered planes are expected to be delivered sometime in 2027.
Although its original 777-9 has yet to be officially released, Boeing is already turning its attention to testing another variant of the aircraft, the larger 777-10 plane, a move that Emirates hopes its latest purchase will support.
“Emirates has been open about the fact that we are keen for manufacturers to build larger capacity aircraft, which are more efficient to operate especially with projected air traffic growth and increasing constraints at airports,” Sheikh Ahmed said. “We fully support Boeing’s feasibility study to develop the 777-10 and have options to convert our latest 777-9 order to the 777-10 or the 777-8.”
Emirates currently flies the largest Boeing 777 fleet in the world, and it has operated every 777 variant during its 40 years of operation.
The carrier also announced at the Dubai Airshow that it would begin adding Starlink Wi-Fi to its fleet, starting with its Boeing 777 planes in November 2025. Emirates will work to add the free ultra-high-speed Wi-Fi to its entire fleet over the next two years, with the rollout expected to be completed by 2027.
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