Emirates Airlines, a state controlled company based in Dubai, is in advanced negotiations with Boeing for the purchase of up to 100 long-haul passenger jets, in a deal that could exceed $30 billion.
Emirates are also considering the possibility of an aircraft purchase from Airbus, including the A380 and A350 models.
The airline reported that it could announce agreements with Boeing and Airbus at the Dubai Air Show, scheduled for November, but stressed that the deals were not yet finalized. Boeing and Airbus declined to comment.
Emirates is negotiating with Boeing to become one of the first customers for the launch of the enhanced 777 aircraft, a project called 777X.
“We are in a relatively advanced stage of commercial negotiations . . . I think whatever happens there will be a substantive order for the new 777,” said the president of Emirates Airlines, Tim Clark.
The company evaluates an order of between 100 and 175 777X aircraft, but a source close to the situation said that probably the company will buy around 100 aircraft.
The 777X could have a list price of $400 million, said Clark. Boeing declined to comment, as the aircraft programme has not yet been released.
Lufthansa has ordered 34 777- 9X aircraft in September, in a transaction that suggests a catalogue price of $359 million. The German company has not confirmed the figures.
If Emirates will sign the contract for 100 777X aircraft, the deal could be worth between 30 and 40 billion dollars for the list price, depending on the model chosen, but the company would get a significant discount because it will be among the first buyers.
Emirates Airlines has in its fleet 126 of the 777 aircraft and is the largest operator of this Boeing jets. The Dubai-based company is also the world’s largest operator of the Airbus 380. According to the International Air Transport Association records, Emirates Airlines has the largest fleet of wide-body passenger aircraft in the world.
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