Emirates just 10 jets short of 100
The countdown begins as Emirates’ ultra-modern aircraft fleet moves closer to becoming 100 in size, after taking delivery of its 90th aircraft, a Boeing 777-300ER. The fleet of one of the world’s fastest growing international airlines is now just 10 aircraft short of 100 and scheduled to enter into triple digits for the very first time by end of this year.
Fitted to Emirates’ specifications, the brand new aircraft will add to the airline’s 11 existing Boeing 777-300ERs. Emirates’ fleet of Boeing 777-300ERs will escalate to 54 aircraft by 2014, making it the single largest aircraft type in the airline’s rapidly-expanding fleet.
A substantial portion of Emirates’ future Boeing 777-300ERs was ordered at the recently concluded Dubai Air Show.
During the five-day exhibition, Emirates placed the largest-ever order for Boeing 777 aircraft, valued at US$ 9.7 billion. This order comprises 24 Boeing 777-300ERs and 10 Boeing 777-200LR Worldliners - made famous for breaking the world distance record for a commercial airliner.
Providing excellent economics and larger capacity, the wide-bodied, twin-aisle Boeing 777-300ER is used on several Emirates routes such as Sydney, Bangkok, Johannesburg, London Heathrow, Düsseldorf and Istanbul.
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HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group said:
“Emirates has experienced an unstoppable expansion in the past 20 years spurring an ambitious fleet acquisition programme. The Emirates fleet which started on a humble footing of just two leased aircraft in 1985 has since then doubled in size every five years on average. The quantum leap for us came in 2000 when Emirates’ almost tripled its fleet size from 31 in 2000 to 87 in 2005.”
Boasting one of the youngest and most technologically advanced fleet in the skies, Emirates’ fleet currently consists of 90 Boeing and Airbus aircraft, including 29 Airbus A330-200s, 12 Boeing 777-300ERs, 12 Boeing 777-300s, nine Boeing 777-200s, 10 Airbus A340-500s, eight A340-300s, one A310, six Boeing 747 freighters and three Airbus A310 freighters.
Emirates also has over 100 aircraft, including 45 Airbus A380 and 60 Boeing 777 worth over US$ 33 billion, pending delivery.
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