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The Boeing Co.’s (NYSE: BA) widebody aircraft have been the clear darlings of the Dubai Airshow in its opening day, which kicked off with more than 100 orders for 777X and 787 Dreamliner jets.
Boeing netted a deal for 90 777X aircraft from Emirates, bringing the Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based carrier to a total of 205 777X jets on order. Meanwhile, the carrier's low-cost cousin, Flydubai, placed its first-ever widebody order with Boeing, purchasing 30 787 Dreamliners as it seeks to add capacity and introduce longer routes.
While Boeing hasn’t published list prices since 2022, the two deals alone are worth nearly $50 billion at its most recent rates, though carriers are typically able to negotiate significant discounts on larger orders.
Other major deals are expected in the coming days, though, including one Airbus and Turkish Airlines alluded to for as many as 240 firm orders, according to reports by Reuters and Aviation Week. Those are expected to be made up predominantly of single-aisle aircraft, though precise terms are still being settled.
Emirates also added five 787s to its backlog, joining Moroccan airline Royal Air Maroc and Jordanian flag carrier Royal Jordanian in expanding and remixing their 787 orders. Emirates valued its entire deal, which also included an order of 202 777X engines, at $52 billion.
Boeing has said it plans to resume production of the 777X in Everett by the end of the year, as it continues its work with federal regulators to certify the plane for operation. As one of the earliest customers for the plane, Emirates said it expects to take delivery of its first 777X in 2025, with deliveries from its latest order stretching out into 2035.
"This order is an incredible vote of confidence in Boeing's highly efficient widebody family and the versatility of our 777X and 787 airplanes to meet Emirates' needs for global long-haul travel," Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal said in a news release.
Production of the 787 takes place in North Charleston, South Carolina, supported by parts from nearly 100 Puget Sound-area suppliers.
The widebody orders weren’t Boeing's only wins on the airshow’s first day. Turkish airline SunExpress also placed an order for 45 Renton-built 737 Max jets, with options to add 45 more under the same terms.
The deal includes 17 737 Max 10 aircraft, which also have yet to make their debut, with Boeing currently forecasting certification for the variant next year. At list prices, the firm orders are worth around $5.7 billion.
