EVERETT, Wash, June 05, 1996 -- Emirates Airlines, the international carrier of the United Arab Emirates, today became the first carrier in the Middle East to take delivery of a Boeing 777. The delivery was highlighted by a planeside ribbon-cutting ceremony by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Emirates Airlines and a member of the ruling family of Dubai.
"The 777 will enable Emirates to expand its route structures and become a more global airline," commented Richard Albrecht, executive vice president at Boeing Commercial Airplane Group. "In just ten years, they have become one of the most recognized airlines in the world. The 777 will allow them to fly longer routes than they've been able to fly before now, and at the same time bring a higher level of comfort to their passengers."
Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engines, the 777-200 accommodates 303 passengers in Emirates's configuration. The airline will use its 777s initially on routes to Europe and Australia.
In addition to becoming the first 777 delivered to an airline based in the Middle East, the airplane also is the first new Boeing jetliner ever delivered to Emirates. This is the first of three 777s scheduled for delivery to the Dubai-based airline this year, with the remaining 1996 deliveries scheduled for July and October. Emirates has seven 777s on order with options for an additional seven airplanes.
Emirates also will be the lead certification customer for the Rolls-Royce Trent 890 engine at 90,000 pounds of thrust -- the highest thrust rating in the world -- on its first 777-200 Increased Gross Weight, longer-range airplane. That airplane is scheduled for delivery in early 1997.
A total of 268 orders for the new 777 have been placed since its launch in 1990. Since then and through the end of 1995, the new Boeing twinjet has won almost 80 percent of the market for airplanes in its size category.
The new twinjet recently received the prestigious National Aeronautic Association's Robert J. Collier Trophy, which honors the 777 as the top aeronautical achievement of 1995.