By: Amr Adel
Dubai – Mubasher: The Dubai-based Emirates Airline on Sunday signed an AED 55.4 billion ($15.1 billion) with the US’ Boeing to purchase 40 787-10-Dreamliner aircraft on the sidelines of Dubai Airshow 2017.
The delivery of the 40 aircraft are scheduled to begin by 2022, said Ahmed bin Saeed Maktoum, Emirates’ CEO and chairman.
“Some of these [jets] will be replacements so that we maintain a young and efficient fleet, and others will power our future network growth,” bin Saeed added.
Emirates has many options to fund the new deal, either by direct finance, banks or sukuk, the top official continued, noting that tourism sector in the UAE will improve the aviation sector.
“Emirates’ agreement includes conversion rights to switch the aircraft to 787-9s, offering the airline additional flexibility for its future fleet and global network,” the company said in a statement.
The new jets are planned to be delivered in a mix of two and three-cabin class configurations, and a capacity to incorporate between 240 and 330 seats, the company added.
“We are excited that Emirates has selected the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner to power its fleet expansion and future growth,” Kevin McAllister, Boeing commercial airplanes’ CEO.
Choosing 787 Dreamliner, Emirates is sustaining our strategic partnership, in addition to creating several jobs in the UAE, he added.
“This is an airplane that will set a new benchmark for operating economics in the commercial aviation industry when it enters service next year,” McAllister concluded.
Emirates supports jobs in the US' aerospace industry, as evidenced by the American trade ministry's data, which revealed that every $1 billion deal to export jets creates 5,200 jobs in the world’s biggest economy.
With Sunday’s deal, Emirates’ under-delivery Boeing aircraft reached 204.
Translated by: Muhammad Khalid
