Emirates bets big on Boeing with $38 billion order at Dubai Airshow

Emirates said on Monday it has ordered 65 additional Boeing 777-9 aircraft worth $38 billion at list prices on the opening day of Dubai Airshow 2025.

Emirates is Boeing’s largest customer for wide-body jets and today’s announcement brings the airline’s total orders from Boeing to 315 wide-body aircraft.

Emirates said in a statement on Monday that it marked “a major long-term commitment to US aerospace manufacturing, supporting hundreds of thousands of high-value manufacturing jobs in the US over the life of the programmes.”

This move is expected to be welcomed by the Trump Administration, which is pushing companies abroad to invest in the United States. Boeing jets frequently feature in trade deals struck by the administration. South Korea, Japan, Britain, Malaysia and Indonesia have placed large orders for Boeing planes as part of trade negotiations.

The Boeing 777-9 aircraft is powered by GE 9X engines, bringing Emirates’ order book with GE Aerospace for GE9X engines to a total of 540 units, according to a statement from the company.

“Already the world’s largest customer for GE90 and GP7200 engines, this additional GE9X order reflects Emirates’ confidence in our technology and team,” Russell Stokes, president and CEO of commercial engines and services at GE Aerospace, told CNBC.

“We stand ready to support Emirates in every way to leverage the efficiency and resilience of our industry-leading solutions and services.”

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, said the order demonstrates “a long-term commitment and testament to our partnership with Boeing and GE and US aerospace.”

Emirates is grappling with lengthy delays to Boeing’s 777X programme, which is a cornerstone of its fleet renewal strategy. The carrier’s order could face delivery timelines extending into 2027 as Boeing continues to struggle with certification hurdles and production disruptions.

Emirates has spent billions of dollars refurbishing its older jets to bridge the gap, and the airline’s Chairman pressed Boeing for accountability, saying the planemaker needed to “get its act together” in an interview with CNBC’s Dan Murphy last year.

The delays underscore increasing pressure from Boeing’s new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, to stabilize production and restore confidence amid an industry-wide supply crunch.

Don’t miss CNBC’s interview with Emirates President Tim Clark at the Dubai Airshow on Tuesday 18 November at 12:30 UAE / 08:30 GMT.