Thaindian News

Dubai, Nov 13 (IANS) US aerospace major Boeing and Dubai-based Emirates Airline Sunday announced a $18-billion deal for 50 Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range) jetliners, which also allows a $8-billion repeat order for 20 more of the commercial planes at a later stage.

The 50-jet order from Emirates makes this the single largest commercial airplane deal in Boeing’s history in dollar value.

It also makes 2011 the bestselling year for the Boeing 777 programme, surpassing the previous record of 154 orders set in 2005.

With the Emirates order, the 2011 net order book for the plane stands at 182.

“The 777’s reliability, performance and operating economics have firmly established it as the backbone of our fleet,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates Airline and Group.

“We have an ambitious and strategic plan to continue growing our international network and especially increasing our long-haul, non-stop routes. This order supports our fleet expansion and reiterates our commitment to operating a modern fleet for the benefit of our passengers and to ensure operational efficiency as well,” Sheikh Ahmed said.

Emirates is the world’s largest 777 operator with a fleet of 94 planes through direct purchase and lease, plus additional unfilled orders on backlog for 41 of the 777-300ERs.

It is also the only airline in the world to operate every model in the Boeing 777 family, including the 777 Freighter.

Airline sources told India Strategic magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) that the airline, already the second biggest in the world, is likely to announce some more important deals soon.

Emirates took delivery of its first Boeing 777 — a 777-200 — in 1996 and has deployed the 777 on short, medium and long-haul routes since then.

“This is an extremely proud moment for us as it not only underscores Emirates’ ongoing confidence in the 777 but also makes this the single largest order by dollar value in Boeing’s history,” said Jim Albaugh, president and chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

“As the largest operator of the 777 in the world, Emirates has played an important role in development of the airplane and its input over the years has been invaluable in the development of the 777 programme,” Albaugh said.

The twin-engined, twin-aisled 777-300ER can carry 365 passengers and has a range of 7,930 nautical miles or 14,685 km.

Boeing incorporated several performance enhancements for the 777-300ER, extending its range and payload capabilities.

(Gulshan Luthra can be contacted at Gulshan.Luthra@IndiaStrategic.in)