AlHijjah 17, 1432, Nov 13, 2011, SPA -- Emirates Airlines announced Sunday it has ordered 50 long-range Boeing passenger aircraft worth 66 billion Emirati dirhams (18 billion dollars), dpa reported. The order is the single largest commercial plane order in the history of the aircraft manufacturer Boeing by dollar value, the company said. "Emirates has placed an order for an additional 50 Boeing 777-300 ER planes, in addition to 20 Boeing 777-300ER as an option," the carrier's chairman Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum said. "This order supports our fleet expansion and reiterates our commitment to operating a modern fleet for the benefit of our passengers and to ensure operational efficiency as well," he added. Emirates is the world's largest 777 operator with a fleet of 94 777s through direct purchase and lease. "This is an extremely proud moment for us as it not only underscores Emirates' ongoing confidence in the 777 but also makes this the single largest order by dollar value in Boeing's history," Jim Albaugh, the head of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said at a signing ceremony in Dubai. Emirates, one of the world's fast growing airlines, currently has a fleet of 162 wide-bodied aircraft, flying to 115 destinations in 67 countries.
