Dubai’s Emirates Airline has placed an order with Boeing for an additional 30 777-300ER aircraft, worth approximately US$9.1 billion at list prices. The new order adds to the fleet of 71 777-300ERs previously ordered, of which 53 aircraft are currently in service. The 777-300ER offers an additional cargo payload of 20.1 tonnes.

The order adds to an already substantial order book that is set to soon place Emirates as the largest airline in the world by fleet size. In addition to the order placed today, Emirates has 79 Airbus A380s, 70 Airbus A350s and seven Boeing freighters on order totaling 204 widebody aircraft worth more than US$67 billion (AED 246 billion).

“Emirates is the world’s largest operator of 777s and this latest order, adding to 71 777-300ERs previously ordered, affirms Emirates’ strategy to become a world leading carrier and to further establish Dubai as a central gateway to worldwide air travel,” said H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al- Maktoum. “Our latest deal signals Emirates’ confidence in the growth of the thriving aviation sector and our commitment to building a modern, environmentally efficient fleet for tomorrow,” he added.

In a year where the aviation industry was rocked by the economic downturn, Emirates Airline recently reported its 22nd year of profit, up 416 per cent to US$964 million.