Emirates has ordered an additional 65 Boeing 777-9 widebodies.
The announcement, made on the first day of the Dubai Airshow on Monday, means the Dubai-based airline will order 270 777-9s by 2038.
The 777-9 is one of two 777x variants in development along with the 777-8. The 777-9 is wider, longer, has greater range and efficiency than the previous generation 777 aircraft, and will be the largest twin-engine airliner in the sky.
The first 777x variant was originally scheduled to enter service in 2020. Last month, Boeing pushed back the expected first delivery date from next year to 2026, saying much of the flight test certification program still needs to be completed.
“We have accumulated more than 4,000 hours of flight time, more than twice the typical flight test program, and to date we have had no significant technical issues with the airplane or engines,” Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said during the manufacturer’s October earnings call, according to a transcript prepared by The Motley Fool.
Emirates currently operates 119 777-300ERs and 10 777-220LRs.
