GE Aerospace (GE) announced a pair of substantial deals Monday with two prominent UAE carriers, strengthening its grip on the Middle Eastern aviation market with orders worth billions.
Emirates Doubles Down on the 777X
The headline deal came from Emirates, which committed to 130 GE9X engines to power 65 additional Boeing 777-9 aircraft. This marks the airline's third order for Boeing's 777X series, and the numbers are getting seriously large. With this latest agreement, Emirates' total GE9X order—including spare engines and long-term service contracts—climbs to more than 540 engines.
Why does this matter? Emirates is already the world's largest Boeing 777 operator, and they're leaning even harder into that identity. As HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, put it: "Emirates is already the world's largest Boeing 777 operator and we are expanding our commitment to the programme today with additional orders worth $38 billion for 65 Boeing 777-9s, and 130 GE9X engines."
The GE9X isn't just any engine. It's one of the most powerful and fuel-efficient commercial engines on the market, built exclusively for Boeing's 777X jets. The technology delivers 10% better fuel efficiency compared to the GE90-115B, features next-generation emissions standards, and has successfully completed over 1,700 dust ingestion cycles—critical for operations in harsh Middle Eastern environments.
GE Aerospace is putting its money where its mouth is too, announcing a $50 million investment in a new On Wing Support facility to service this expanding fleet.
flydubai Goes Wide
In a separate announcement, flydubai revealed its own significant commitment: 60 GEnx-1B engines to power a new fleet of 30 Boeing 787-9 aircraft. This represents flydubai's first venture into widebody aircraft, a strategic shift as the carrier expands into long-haul operations.
The deal includes spare engines and a comprehensive long-term services agreement, giving flydubai the support infrastructure needed as it launches these new routes.
Building Momentum
These deals add to GE Aerospace's recent string of wins. Last month, AerCap Holdings N.V. (AER) signed a seven-year agreement with GE to provide lease pool management services for the GE9X engine. That deal also extended AerCap's existing lease pool support for GEnx, GE90, CF6, and CF34 engines, creating a comprehensive service network.
The back-to-back announcements underscore the Middle East's growing importance in global aviation, with UAE carriers leading aggressive fleet expansion plans. For GE Aerospace, it's validation that their next-generation engine technology is winning the competition where it counts—with the airlines writing the checks.
Price Action: GE shares traded 0.46% higher at $306.23 in premarket activity Monday.