Emirates announced Monday that it has ordered 65 additional Boeing 777-9 jets, a deal valued at $38 billion at list prices, unveiled on the opening day of the 2025 Dubai Airshow.
With this purchase, Emirates — already Boeing’s largest wide-body customer — now holds a total of 315 Boeing widebody aircraft on order.
In a statement, the airline said the move represents “a significant long-term investment in U.S. aerospace manufacturing,” supporting hundreds of thousands of skilled American jobs over the lifespan of the aircraft programs.
The decision is expected to be welcomed by the Trump administration, which has been actively encouraging foreign companies to boost investment in the United States. Boeing aircraft have featured prominently in multiple trade agreements brokered by the administration, with recent large orders coming from South Korea, Japan, the U.K., Malaysia and Indonesia.
The 777-9 is powered by GE9X engines, bringing Emirates’ total GE Aerospace orderbook for these engines to 540 units. “As the world’s largest customer for GE90 and GP7200 engines, Emirates’ expanded GE9X order reflects their trust in our technology and team,” said Russell Stokes, GE Aerospace’s president and CEO of commercial engines and services. “We are fully committed to supporting Emirates with our most efficient and durable propulsion systems.”
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, said the deal demonstrates “a long-term commitment and testament to our partnership with Boeing and GE, and to U.S. aerospace.”
The order comes as Emirates continues to grapple with significant delays in Boeing’s 777X program — a central pillar of the airline’s fleet renewal plans. Delivery timelines could extend into 2027 as Boeing works through certification challenges and persistent production issues.
The prolonged setbacks have forced Emirates to invest billions in retrofitting older aircraft to maintain capacity. Sheikh Ahmed has publicly pressed Boeing for faster progress, telling CNBC last year that the manufacturer needs to “get its act together.”
The delays add further pressure on Boeing’s new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, who faces the task of stabilizing production and rebuilding trust amid industry-wide supply chain constraints.
Don’t miss CNBC’s interview with Emirates President Tim Clark at the Dubai Airshow on Tuesday, November 18 at 12:30 p.m. UAE / 08:30 a.m. GMT.
