Emirates Airline has signed the largest aircraft order in aviation history, committing to purchase 200 Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft in a deal valued at $67 billion at list prices. The announcement was made by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and CEO of Emirates, at the Dubai Airshow.
The wide-body jets, which burn 25% less fuel than their predecessors, will replace Emirates’s aging Boeing 777 Classic fleet and complement its ongoing A380 operations. Deliveries will begin in 2026 and continue through 2035, with options for an additional 50 aircraft.
The deal represents a major strategic shift for the world’s largest long-haul airline, which has historically favored very large aircraft. The A350’s fuel efficiency allows Emirates to profitably serve thinner routes with higher frequency, expanding its global network beyond the hub-and-spoke model.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury called it “a transformational moment for commercial aviation,” adding that the order would support 15,000 jobs across Airbus facilities in France, Germany, Spain, and the UK.
