Emirates has confirmed an order for 65 B-777X aircraft worth a total of $38 billion, announced on the first day of the "Dubai Airshow" (17-21 November, see AVIONEWS). The contract foresees the start of deliveries in the second quarter of 2027 and includes 130 GE9X engines produced by General Electric. With this commitment, the fleet ordered by the carrier toward the 777X family rises to 270 units, to which are added 10 B-777 cargo and 35 B-787: a backlog portfolio of 315 wide‑body/long‑haul aircraft on order. 

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum described the agreement as "a long-term commitment" that supports hundreds of thousands of skilled jobs in the manufacturing supply chain, stressing that every aircraft in the backlog is integrated into the airline's growth plans. 

The airline, wholly owned by the State of Dubai and currently the most profitable in the world with $2.9 billion in half-year profit, has accumulated massive orders partly to cope with the repeated delays of the 777X programme. 

Boeing, in addition to schedule slippages, has faced safety concerns and legal disputes after several incidents, including the serious June accident involving an Air India aircraft with over 260 victims (see AVIONEWS). 

Delivery delays have forced Emirates to rapidly modernize its existing fleet to maintain capacity and frequencies. The new contract also includes options to switch to higher-capacity B-777X variants still under development, offering operational and industrial flexibility for the coming years.