Emirates announced today that it has placed a firm order for five more Boeing 777 freighters to be delivered in 2025/2026. Together with its previous orders, the airline now has 14 Boeing 777Fs pending delivery from Boeing until the end of 2026.
Emirates has also signed a multi-year lease extension with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise for four Boeing 777Fs in its existing fleet. Therefore, by December 2026, Emirates SkyCargo expects to operate a fleet of 21 Boeing 777 freighters, significantly expanding its current fleet of 11 units.
Emirates also reiterated its target of converting 10 passenger Boeing 777-3000ERs into freighters for further capacity and fleet growth.
“We’re investing in new freighter aircraft to meet surging demand and provide our customers around the world with even more flexibility, connectivity, and options to leverage market opportunity,” stated Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates airline and Group.
Dubai to become a global logistics hub
Al Maktoum explained that demand for Emirates’ air cargo services has been booming, reflecting Dubai’s growing prominence as a global logistics hub.
“Emirates continues to set the direction for our industry and we deeply appreciate the trust they have placed in the Boeing widebody family to serve as the backbone of their global fleet,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Emirates’ cargo division will continue to harness the airline’s all-wide-body passenger fleet to facilitate the fast, reliable, and efficient movement of goods worldwide, offering customers more flexibility with a fleet mix comprising 777s, 777-Fs, 747Fs, A350s, and A380s.
Read: Etihad Cargo boosts belly-hold capacity with 880 passenger flights per week
Al Maktoum airport expansion
This expansion comes as the Dubai government scales the Al Maktoum International Airport to create the world’s largest hub in terms of capacity.
The airport will be able to process 12 million tons of cargo annually, supporting the growth of the nearby Logistics District, which will become an international base for global cargo and shipping companies. This expansion is part of Dubai’s master plan to become the pre-eminent multi-modal cargo hub for air, sea, and land connections.
As part of its vision for the next era of its growth, Emirates also plans to make a decision by the end of this calendar year on its future freighter fleet for 2028/29 and beyond, with the Boeing 777-8F and Airbus A350-1000F as contenders.
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