Emirates celebrates B777 fleet completing 859,000 flights

Emirates celebrated the Boeing 777 fleet completing over 859,000 flights while logging over 4,720,000 flight hours since its first delivery in 1996.

On September 3, the airline and Boeing marked the 150th Emirates 777 delivery milestone, with a triple delivery of two Boeing 777-300ERs and one Boeing 777 Freighter. 

Emirates’ 147-strong Boeing 777 fleet criss-crosses the globe, currently serving 98 destinations on six continents. These staggering operating milestones underscores Emirates’ long-term commitment to the Boeing 777 program and its contribution to aerospace manufacturing and related jobs in the U.S. 

“Emirates’ approach to global air travel has created substantial additional demand for U.S.-made aircraft and engines, and benefited millions of travellers,” said Sir Tim Clark, president Emirates Airline. “The Boeing 777 makes up the majority of our fleet, and gives us the range and flexibility to provide non-stop services to almost any city within a 16 hour flying range of our hub in Dubai. Our orders for these efficient jets have come on the back of our steady growth in the U.S. and globally. We are proud to connect U.S. cities to tourism and trade opportunities in destinations across Asia, Africa and the Middle East which were previously underserved by direct air transport links. It’s clearly a win-win situation when our investments in U.S.-made technology together with our global operations, help to support U.S. jobs and strengthen American prosperity.” 

Analyst Saj Ahmad commented: “With the world's biggest fleet of 777s, it comes as little surprise that Emirates has racked up an impressive figure of more then 859,000 flights over 4.7 million flight hours. 

“As the only airline to have operated all six 777 variants, Emirates' experience with the 777 family is second to none. 

“Emirates has used not just it's organic strength to expand operations, indeed, we're it not for the 777, the airline would not have been able to open up major routes to hubs like Seattle or Panama City - and without the need to trade passengers or cargo on long range routes. 

“Emirates has been such a huge buyer of 777s, their purchasing of the type since 1996 has eclipsed that of every US airline combined - both in unit and dollar terms.‎ This has supported tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs across the USA at Boeing and GE.” 

Ahmad added: “Critically, the 777X was born directly out of Emirates' desire for a new fuel efficient update and evolution of a jet that has been the backbone of its operations. 

“In turn, the $75bn-plus order for 150 Boeing 777X jets will work to replace the existing 777 fleet starting from next decade - it's not out of the realm that Emirates will require at least another 150 more 777-8 and 777-9 jets for expansion - especially as these will also likely replace the A380 fleet which at present, looks unlikely to benefit from any major engine or wing changes to remain competitive against the 777X family.”