Emirates had announced an order for 150 Boeing 777X back in 2013, finalising it in 2014 with 115 of the 777-9X variant and 35 of the 777-8X, plus purchase rights on another 50. Further, Emirates had converted six orders of the 777-300ER to the 777X later, making an outstanding order of 156 Boeing 777X aircraft. At the Dubai Airshow 2017, Boeing also started discussions for 40 Boeing 787-10 aircraft.

At the Dubai Airshow 2019, after making a firm order for 50 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, everyone was curious to hear what was it that Boeing was going to get. Emirates has long been rumoured to be reviewing their 777X order due to delays at the manufacturing end. At the penultimate day of the Dubai Airshow 2019, Boeing and Emirates finally came around to announcing the order for Boeing.

Emirates and Boeing have signed a full purchase agreement for 30 Boeing 787-9 aircraft, worth US$ 8.8 billion at list prices, at the Dubai Airshow 2019. Under the agreement, Emirates has substituted some of the outstanding Boeing 777x orders with Boeing 787s. The purchase is going to be worth USD 8.8 billion at list prices. With this move, the 787-10 agreement will also be closed, being replaced by the firm order for the 787-9 aircraft.

The deal includes Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with deliveries commencing in May 2023 and continuing through 2028. With this conversion, Emirates remains the world’s biggest 777X customer with 126 aircraft on order and the largest 777 operators with 155 aircraft today.

Eventually, this is not a new win for Boeing but the rehash of earlier agreements, where Boeing has not won anything new, but lost 30 777X for 30 787-9 aircraft. With the finalisation of this contract, Emirates comes out ahead.

What do you make of the new Emirates announcement for the order with Boeing?