Emirates
makes aviation history – again
Released
on: November 20, 2007, 6:36 am
Press
Release Author: Emirates Airline
Industry:
Transportation
& Logistics
Press
Release Summary: Emirates Airline announce largest-ever aircraft
order in civil aviation worth an estimated US$34.9 billion in list
prices
Press
Release Body: Emirates Airline have announced another
historic civil aviation aircraft order, when it signed contracts
for a 120 Airbus A350s, 11 A380s, and 12 Boeing 777-300ERs, worth
an estimated US$34.9 billion in list prices.
HH
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive
of Emirates,
announced the massive order at the 10th Dubai Airshow; and signed
the contracts with Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO, and Lee
Monson, Vice President Middle East and Africa Sales, Boeing Commercial
Airplanes.
The
agreement with Airbus comprises firm orders for 50 A350-900s and
20 A350-1000s, plus 50 options for the A350-900s. The first A350
will be delivered to Emirates in 2014. Emirates
also firmed up orders on the eight A380s for which it had signed
letters of intent earlier this year, and placed firm orders for
an additional three of the double-decker aircraft, bringing its
total firm order for the A380s to 58.
The
contract with Boeing is for 12 firm orders of the 777-300ERs, valued
at US$3.2 billion. With this new order, Emirates now has 57 Boeing
777s pending delivery and is set to become the world’s largest
777 operator in the next few years.
Sheikh
Ahmed also inked agreements with Sir John Rose,
Chief Executive of Rolls Royce for the Trent XWB engines to power
Emirates’ new A350s; with Bruce Hughes, President
of the Engine Alliance for the GP7200 to power its additional A380s;
and with Scott Donnelly, President and CEO of GE Aviation for GE90
engines to power Emirates’ 777-300ERs.
In
total, the firm Emirates
Airline aircraft and engine orders announced are worth
US$23.4 billion – a value that increases to US$34.9 billion
if the 50 options are included. This is the largest-ever aircraft
commitment in civil aviation made by any airline in a single order.
Sheikh
Ahmed said: “Emirates is committing
close to US$35 billion today for new aircraft. Our total order includes
93 aircraft on firm order and 50 on option. Once again, Emirates
is making aviation history.”
Emirates’
total order book now stands at 246 aircraft, all wide body, and
worth over $60 billion US dollars. This is a massive investment
which reflects our confidence in the future of air transport, and
our confidence in Dubai.”
He
added: “In 2003, our plan was for Emirates to
have 100 aircraft by 2010. We have already surpassed that target.
Growth and demand has exceeded the most optimistic projections.
Dubai is investing billions to secure its future as a leading centre
for business, tourism, and air transport on the global stage. Likewise,
Emirates is investing in a fleet for the future, in order
to support Dubai’s development, as well as the growth of air
travel demand around the world.”
He
continued: “The new aircraft we have ordered today are
all of the latest technology – they are greener and more efficient
to operate. At the same time, they will allow Emirates
to continue setting the gold standard in service. We intend to invest
millions of dollars more to develop cutting-edge in-flight products
to match our cutting-edge aircraft fleet.”
About
the Emirates
Group
Emirates, the Dubai
airline, is one of the world’s most successful, and rapidly-expanding
airlines. Its all wide-body fleet of 111 aircraft criss-cross the
globe, serving 97 cities in 61 countries. Emirates is
currently the only airline to operate non-stop
flights to six continents from one hub. Although owned by the
government of Dubai, Emirates is financially independent
and receives no subsidies or protection. It operates and competes
with more than 110 airlines operating in Dubai under the city’s
“Open skies” regime. Emirates has been
profitable every year since inception, with the exception of the
second. Annual growth has never fallen below 20 per cent. In its
last full financial year, Emirates reported its
19th consecutive year of profits at US$844 million, and carried
17.5 million passengers.
Web
Site: http://www.emirates.com/
Contact
Details: PR contact:
Contact:
Sarah Shaughnessy
Emirates Corporate Communications
Emirates Headquarters
Near Clock Tower
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Tel: (+9714) 203 3975
http://www.emirates.com/
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