Key Takeaways:
- Massive Order: Emirates announced a landmark $38 billion deal to purchase 65 Boeing 777-9 aircraft at the Dubai Airshow.
- Delivery Pressure: Emirates President Tim Clark is publicly pressuring the manufacturer, stating he will hold Boeing’s “feet to the fire” to ensure timely delivery.
- Delayed Gratification: The airline hopes to receive the first of the new jets in the second quarter of 2027, highlighting ongoing production and certification challenges at Boeing.
- Conditional Faith: Despite frustrations over past delays, Clark expressed confidence that Boeing can overcome its issues and “restore its former glory.”
Dubai-based airline Emirates has placed a monumental $38 billion order for 65 new Boeing 777-9 planes, but the celebration comes with a firm warning: deliver on time. Speaking at the Dubai Airshow, Emirates President Tim Clark made it clear that the airline will be closely monitoring Boeing’s performance.
“We’re kind of holding Boeing’s feet to the fire,” Clark stated in a CNBC interview on Tuesday. This new purchase takes Emirates’ total order book for widebody jets with the U.S. planemaker to 315, cementing its status as Boeing’s largest customer for these aircraft.
Demanding Accountability Amid Delays
Emirates has been vocal about its frustration with Boeing’s prolonged delays, particularly with the 777X program, which has been hampered by production and certification hurdles. These issues, along with slower processes at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), have forced Emirates to spend billions retrofitting its older fleet to fill capacity gaps.
Clark noted that while he believes the aircraft is “sound,” Boeing is contending with immense certification requirements. The airline is now targeting the second quarter of 2027 for the first deliveries from this new order.
A Vote of Confidence in Boeing’s Future
Despite the ongoing challenges and past criticisms, Clark expressed a strong belief in the manufacturer’s ability to recover. “I know the Boeing of old, and I know what Boeing could do, and they were really, really a great company,” he said. “I see no reason why what has happened in the last decade cannot be fixed.”
This sentiment underscores the massive commitment Emirates has made. The airline, along with others like Ryanair, has previously had to adjust its own growth plans due to Boeing’s delivery postponements.
Restoring a Legacy of Excellence
Clark insisted that Emirates would not have committed to what he called “the biggest 777 order probably in history” if it wasn’t confident in Boeing’s ability to deliver a safe and reliable product. He believes that with its new management and a renewed focus on operational safety and quality control, Boeing has a “strong chance of restoring the company to its former glory.”
“We’re right behind them,” Clark concluded, acknowledging the difficulties while ultimately placing faith in a company he believes is strong enough to right the ship and resume rolling out aircraft at pace within the next five to seven years.