The order with Airbus comprises firm orders for 50 A350-900s and 20 A350-1000s, plus 50 options for the A350-900s. The first A350 will be delivered to Emirates in 2014. The carrier also firmed up orders for eight A380s it had signed letters of intent for earlier this year, and placed firm orders for an additional three of the double-decker aircraft, bringing its total firm order for the A380s to 58, with eight more on option.

The contract with Boeing is for 12 firm orders of the 777-300ERs, valued at US$3.2 billion. With this new order, Emirates now has 57 Boeing 777s pending delivery and is set to become the world's largest 777 operator in the next few years.

Also signed were engine agreements with Rolls Royce for the Trent XWB engines to power Emirates' new A350s; with Engine Alliance for the GP7200 to power its additional A380s; and with GE Aviation for GE90 engines to power the Boeing 777-300ERs.

Emirates' firm aircraft and engine orders announced at the Dubai Air Show are worth USD23.4 billion - a value that increases to USD34.9 billion if the 50 options are included. This is the largest-ever aircraft commitment in civil aviation made by any airline in a single order.

Emirates' total order book now stands at 246 aircraft, all wide body, and worth over $60 billion US dollars.

Under the carriers 2003 plan, it was to have 100 aircraft by 2010. The carrier has already surpassed that target, taking delivery of its 100th passenger aircraft, its 111th including freighters, on 10 November 2007. Growth and demand has exceeded the most optimistic projections.