It said that the agreement was signed by Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The statement said that this is the single largest aircraft order in dollar value at 18 billion.

It said that with 61 777 300-ERs currently in service, this order is another milestone for Emirates and affirms its strategy to expand the long haul destinations and continue to excel as a world leading carrier, connecting the world to Dubai and beyond.

The Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft plays a pivotal role in Emirates development of a modern fleet to meet the demand for global air travel for the future.

The statement said that today's 777-300 ER order gives Emirates the ability to replace some of its older existing aircraft allowing maintaining leadership in fuel efficiency as well as providing customers with an updated superior product. Emirates currently have a fleet of 162 wide-bodied aircraft, flying to 115 destinations in 67 countries.