Emirates places Order for 42 Boeing 777s

Emirates and Boeing have concluded contract negotiations for a firm order for 42 Boeing 777 airplanes with purchase rights for 20 additional airplanes. The deal is valued at US$9.7 billion at list prices.

Emirates' order is for 24 Boeing 777-300ERs, 10 777-200LR Worldliners and 8 777 Freighters, with the first airplanes scheduled for delivery in 2007.

This new order for 42 Boeing 777s will see the airline becoming the largest Boeing 777 operator in the world.

"We have had very positive results with the Boeing 777s already in our fleet," said Emirates Chairman H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum. "These new airplanes are perfectly suited to our business model for continued growth, both in cargo and passenger traffic, while maintaining the high level of comfort and exceptional service our passengers expect."

Emirates will use the 777 Family to extend routes to key European and Asian cities, and fly to emerging markets. The 777-200LR, which recently broke the world distance record for a commercial airliner, will allow Emirates to open new direct service to destinations across the globe, including direct flights to the U.S. West Coast. The airline currently serves over 75 destinations and continues to grow, including a 27% volume increase in cargo through its subsidiary Sky Cargo.

The 777-200LR is currently the world's longest-range commercial jetliner and is capable of connecting virtually any two cities around the globe. In service, the 777-200LR can carry 301 passengers and baggage up to 9,420 nautical miles (17,445 kilometers).

All of the Boeing 777s included in this order by Emirates will be powered by General Electric's GE90 jet engine family and will meet QC2 noise standards for maximum accessibility to noise-sensitive airports.

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