Heard today that my favourite airline Emirates has ordered 50 of my favourite plane: 777-300ER. They also have options for 20 more.  Delivery will start from 2015. The order is valued at $18 billion dollars for Boeing – $26billion with the options. Boeing’s largest dollar value order. Emirates has currently got 57 of the 777-300ERs so they are effectively doubling this type of plane in their fleet. They may of course sell some of their existing 777s to keep their fleet as one of the very youngest. Combined with their orders for 76 Airbus A380s, one gets an idea of the growth Emirates plans between now and 2018. I can see why Emirates shuns alliances- it is its own massive empire! Not bad for an airline that started with $10 million and a plane in  1985.