Dubai Airshow 2025: Emirates confirms US$38bn order for 65 Boeing 777X aircraft
New engine purchase strengthens longstanding partnership with GE Aerospace
DUBAI – Emirates has placed a landmark order for 65 additional Boeing 777-9 aircraft worth US$38 billion at list prices, marking one of the largest announcements on the opening day of Dubai Airshow 2025.
The airline, already the world’s biggest operator of Boeing 777 jets, unveiled the deal as part of a far-reaching fleet and network expansion strategy. The commitment includes options linked to Boeing’s feasibility study for a new, larger-capacity 777-10 variant, underlining the carrier’s push for high-efficiency long-range aircraft. Emirates also placed an order for 130 GE9X engines, expanding its long-standing partnership with GE Aerospace.
With this latest purchase, Emirates’ total orderbook with Boeing rises to 315 aircraft. The figure includes 270 Boeing 777Xs, 10 Boeing 777 freighters, and 35 Boeing 787s. Its commitments with GE Aerospace now total 540 GE9X engines, reinforcing one of the most significant international partnerships in the global aerospace industry. The combined manufacturing and assembly work underpinning the 777X and GE9X programmes supports hundreds of thousands of highly skilled jobs across multiple US states.
Emirates’ order at Dubai Airshow
The new agreement serves as strong backing for Boeing’s study into developing the 777-10, the proposed stretched member of the 777X family. Emirates has secured options to convert part of its latest 777-9 order to either the 777-10 or the 777-8, depending on the manufacturer’s final design and the airline’s future operational needs.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, said the order reaffirms the airline’s confidence in Boeing and GE, describing it as a long-term investment aligned to Dubai’s wider growth ambitions. He highlighted that each new aircraft has been integrated into Emirates’ long-term fleet planning, with the first 777-9 delivery expected from the second quarter of 2027.
The airline emphasised that the expansion supports Dubai’s strategy to strengthen global air connectivity and ensure capacity keeps pace with demand. A young, modern and efficient fleet remains central to its operations, with the 777X expected to bring improved fuel burn, advanced aerodynamics and enhanced cabin comfort.
Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, noted that the selection reinforces a 40-year partnership between the US manufacturer and the Dubai-based airline. She said Emirates’ latest move reflects the carrier’s plans to enhance its global network using advanced widebody aircraft.
GE Aerospace also welcomed the deepening collaboration. Russell Stokes, President and CEO for Commercial Engines and Services, highlighted Emirates’ status as the world’s largest customer for GE90 and GP7200 engines. He added that the additional GE9X order strengthens cooperation on next-generation propulsion technologies.
How Emirates is expanding
Emirates’ 40-year history with the 777 family spans every major model. Today, the airline operates 119 Boeing 777-300ERs, 10 Boeing 777-200LRs and 11 Boeing 777 freighters, powering flights to more than 140 cities across six continents. The aircraft support tourism flows, global trade and cargo movements through Dubai’s role as a major aviation and logistics hub.
The newly announced order extends Emirates’ Boeing deliveries through to 2038. This long-term pipeline will sustain a broad ecosystem of manufacturing, engineering and supply chain activity across US facilities in states including Alabama, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont and Washington.
The 65 additional 777-9s are timed to support Emirates’ future network expansion, as passenger traffic across Dubai continues to grow. The airline expects the 777X to become a core part of its widebody fleet over the next decade, with deliveries staggered to match slot availability, demand forecasts and retirement schedules for older aircraft.