CHICAGO, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Boeing says it has booked a record order for its Boeing 777 airliner from the Persian Gulf.
Emirates Airline agreed to purchase 50 Boeing 777-300ER jets from the U.S. aerospace manufacturer for $18 billion, plus an $8 billion option for another 20 aircraft.
"This is an extremely proud moment for us as it not only underscores Emirates' ongoing confidence in the 777 but also makes this the single largest order by dollar value in Boeing's history," Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Albaugh said in a news release issued at the annual Dubai Air Show.
Emirates officials said they liked the reliability and economic performance of the twin-engine 777 and expressed an interest in any next-generation version of the aircraft.
Seattlepi.com reported the blockbuster order came after Emirates voiced unhappiness at the changes Airbus had made to the A350-1000 airliner, which is the chief rival to the 777.
