Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, placed a USD 76 billion order with Boeing for 150 of the new 777X aircraft – marking the largest craft launch in jetliner history.
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The Dubai-based carrier is the largest operator of the 777s, with over 120 currently in service.
Taking place at the Dubai Air Show, the deal proceeded Etihad Airways’ 777X order for 25 units.
Lufthansa’s initial bid in September means Boeing have received close to USD 100 billion in orders, making it – according to James McNerney, Boeing’s Chief Executive – the largest launch in commercial jetliner history.
The aircraft will serve for growth purposes, and also replace some older craft, Emirates has said.
50 Airbus SAS A380 superjumbos
Emirates also ordered 50 more Airbus A380s worth USD 23 billion on Sunday in a similar landmark deal.
Airbus has announced this order will ensure 2,500 jobs remain protected at Flintshire and Bristol in the UK.
This will take its total order to 140 planes; worth around USD 45 billion.
The transaction is a record-breaker for the A380 plane, which was previously facing ending 2013 with no deals.
Instead, Airbus can now call the year one of its most successful in operation – if leasing company Doric firms up its proposal to purchase 20 units, as announced in June.
The boost comes after Harald Wilhelm, Airbus’ Chief Financial Officer, noted the company might have reduce the A380’s output, after recording unsold production slots as early as 2015.
The plane maker was bracing for a third consecutive year in which it failed to meet order targets after Lufthansa canceled its order for three of the aircraft in September, and Air France-KLM announced it might drop its order for two smaller plans.
In addition, Virgin Atlantic Airways announced it could not finalise its purchase of six A380s on order, and Japan’s Skymark Airlines Inc. has noted only this month it has so far not gained the financing necessary to purchase the planes previously aimed for.
All in all, whilst 30 planes were initially ordered, only nine were purchased.
Boeing has also struggled to complete orders for its 747-8; having reduced the total output twice so far this year.
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