Emirates airlines celebrated early this week the unveiling of the 1,000th Boeing 777 during a special event at the manufacturer's plant in Everet Emirates is the world's largest operator of the 777 fleet and the landmark aircraft will become the 102nd to join the airline's 777 fleet when it is delivered later this month. The factory celebration was attended by more than 5,000 Boeing employees, suppliers and government officials, including Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates Airline and Group, a delegation of dignitaries from the UAE and senior Emirates executives. "Emirates is honoured to be the recipient of Boeing's 1000th 777, an aircraft whose advanced, long range capacity has been instrumental to our success in becoming a truly global airline," said Sheikh Ahmed. "Emirates is already the world's largest operator of the Boeing 777 and our order for an additional 93 is further testament to our belief in the product and the role this aircraft will play as we build our fleet for tomorrow and further establish Dubai's position as one of the world's leading air travel hubs." "It is very fitting that Emirates is the recipient of our milestone 1000th 777 delivery. We are honoured that the 777 is central to its efforts to be a global airline leader," said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Emirates, the largest airline in the world in terms of international revenue passenger kilometres, now flies to 122 destinations worldwide. In addition to the 1,000th Boeing 777 passenger aircraft, Emirates also received a Boeing 777 freighter, the eighth to join its fleet, on 1 March 2012. Meanwhile, the carrier brought an economic lift, as it had inaugurated the first direct air bridge between the Middle East and America's northwest. The inaugural service from Dubai departed for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to generate a host of economic benefits; from boosting imports and exports to creating new markets for business and tourism. Emirates' recent order for an additional 50 Boeing 777-300ERs fitted with American-made GE90 engines, plus options for 20 more aircraft worth a total of $26 billion at list prices, will support over 100,000 skilled American jobs in more than a dozen US states. "This new service is the latest step in Emirates' strategic programme of expansion across the United States, and we are confident that it will support the burgeoning trade relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the Seattle metropolitan region," continued the Emir. Emirates is already the world's largest customer of the Boeing 777 and operates the aircraft to each of its six United States gateways: New York JFK, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth and now Seattle. A number of other Washington state suppliers contribute to the airline's unprecedented aircraft order book. The Smart Landing and Smart Runway technology fitted in Emirates' fleet is designed in Honeywell Aerospace's Redmond, WA facility; while Zodiac Aerospace manufactures Emirates' aircraft stowage compartments at their Washington plant. "This new service will serve as a gateway to an important part of the world that is essential to creating jobs, new business and tourism opportunities in our state," said Gael Tarleton, Port of Seattle Commission president. "This direct service connects the Puget Sound region to an entire new continent of economic possibilities."An official report showed that the UAE was the 19th largest export destination worldwide for American goods in 2011, with total exports valued at a record high of almost $16 billion. Topping the list was transport equipment, which included almost $3.5 billion in aircraft deliveries, $163 million in aircraft parts and $26 million in aircraft engines. Other leading exports included computer and electronic products, non-electrical machinery, chemicals and fabricated metal products. "Emirates' non-stop flights will support Seattle's thriving export trade through a 15-ton freight capacity that will serve one of the largest cargo hubs in the world at Dubai International Airport," said Ram Menen, divisional senior vice president of Emirates SkyCargo. "Emirates will carry goods including software, technology and telecommunications equipment to markets across the Middle and Far East." Flying to ten Indian cities over 180 times per week, 22 destinations in Africa and points across the Middle East, Emirates will provide easy connectivity between Seattle and these key destinations, making business and leisure travel easier and more convenient for West Coast customers. Connections to Bangkok, Delhi, Bangalore, Doha, Chennai, Islamabad, Lahore, Kuwait, Mumbai and Hyderabad are all under three hours.
