Emirates takes delivery of new Boeing 777s
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Sunday, 31 August 2008
Emirates has taken delivery of two new Boeing 777 which are set to be employed on long-haul routes to north and south America.
The delivery of the aircraft will act to soften Emirates' disappointment after Arabian Business revealed on Thursday that its second Airbus A380 had been delayed.
The airline, by far the A380’s largest customer with 58 aircraft on order, did not give a reason for the delay but it is understood to be because of supply issues with interior outfitting.
The planes, a 777-200LR and a 777-300ER, brings Emirates' passenger fleet to 111 aircraft, and adds a further 620 seats to the Dubai-based airline's capacity, reported news agency WAM.
Chairman and chief executive Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, said: "Our latest two 777s are a welcome addition to the fleet. It is not often an airline receives delivery of two wide-bodied aircraft, together worth more than $500 million, in a single day.
"The 777s are the mainstay of our ultra long-range operations, allowing Emirates to expand our global route network and connect Dubai with non-stop flights to almost anywhere in the world."
The two new jets will be deployed on Emirates' long-haul routes, and have already been earmarked for its first journeys to North and South America.
Emirates received its first 777, a Boeing 777-200, in 1996. Today, the airline has 63 Boeing 777s in its modern fleet, and it is set to become the world's largest 777 operator with another 39 of these jets, worth $10.1 billion at list prices, on order.
Last month, Emirates received the first of its 58 Airbus 380s, which can transport up to 489 passengers per flight. Emirates operates services to 101 cities spanning more than 60 countries on six continents.
Delays hit arrival of next Emirates A380
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