Emirates Orders 65 Boeing 777-9s, Seeks Bigger Planes

The airline has ordered a total of 315 Boeing widebody planes, and its latest deal supports Boeing’s 777-10 feasibility study.

A Boeing 777-9 on the tarmac at Al Maktoum International Airport during the Dubai Airshow in the United Arab Emirates on Nov. 17, 2025. Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images

Emirates, one of the world’s largest international airlines, is pushing The Boeing Company to develop an ultra-large aircraft to better accommodate a greater volume of international travel and heightened passenger constraints at airport terminals.

The airline, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Nov. 17 ordered an additional 65 Boeing 777-9 aircraft, increasing its total order of Boeing’s widebody planes to 315 aircraft. The order includes 270 Boeing 777Xs, 10 Boeing 777 freighters, and 35 Boeing 787s. The contract, which includes 130 GE Aerospace GE9X engines, is valued at $38 billion.

The first 777-9 aircraft are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2027, said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and CEO of the Emirates Group.

“Each of our aircraft on order has been carefully factored into Emirates’ expansion plan, which is aligned to Dubai’s growth plans,” he said. “Flying a young and modern fleet with innovative cabin products has always been a cornerstone of Emirates’ strategy.”

Emirates also has an order on its books for 52 additional Airbus A350-900 aircraft. It already operates 10 A350-900s, along with 116 Airbus A380 aircraft. The planes are among the industry’s largest commercial aircraft, yet Emirates is pushing Boeing to develop even larger planes.

“Emirates has been open about the fact that we are keen for manufacturers to build larger capacity aircraft, which are more efficient to operate especially with projected air traffic growth and increasing constraints at airports,” Al Maktoum said.

Boeing’s stretched 777-9 aircraft is nearly 252 feet long and can accommodate 426 passengers, while the 777-8 is 232 1/2 feet long and can accommodate 395 passengers. The Airbus A350-900 widebody jet, meanwhile, is nearly 220 feet long and can accommodate 440 passengers.

Emirates said its deal includes the option to convert its 777-9 order into stretched 777-10s if Boeing proceeds with plans to develop the aircraft. Alternatively, it could also convert them to the 777-8 aircraft.

The Epoch Times reached out to Boeing for comment on the feasibility study and possible development of the 777-10, as well as to Emirates on its desire to add even larger-bodied aircraft to its fleet.

The order, which was jointly announced on the first day of the Dubai Airshow 2025, comes amid Boeing’s long-term struggles to get its 777X aircraft into commercial production. On Oct. 29, Boeing reported a $4.9 billion loss in the third quarter due to certification issues stemming from its 777X program.

Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg, who took the helm at Boeing in August 2024, said that despite the disappointing scheduling delays, the 777X continues to perform well in flight testing.

“We remain focused on the work ahead to complete our development programs and stabilize our operations in order to fully recover our company’s performance and restore trust with all of our stakeholders,” Ortberg said.

Emirates expects order delivery of Boeing’s 777X aircraft to continue through 2028.