Boeing celebrates huge order made during Dubai Airshow

Boeing is making a big splash at the Dubai Airshow.

It opened the show with a $12 billion order with Emirates.

“We’re incredibly proud to have a commitment of 40, 787-10s and have Emirates join the 787 family,” Boeing CEO Kevin McAllister.

It was a surprising blow to Boeing competitor Airbus, which had hopes of cashing in on its long-awaited A-380 double-decker jumbo jet.

Emirates CEO and Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said the airline considered going with Airbus.

“We were comparing the two apples,” he said, adding that the 787 is the “best option.”

Unfortunately for Puget Sound workers, all of those planes will be made in South Carolina. The Boeing 787-10 typically lists for $312.8 million. Delivery will begin in 2022.

The twin-engine 787-10 has been a focus of President Trump since he came into office. In February, he visited the Boeing plant in North Charleston, which manufactures the carbon-fiber, 330-seat plane Trump described as “an amazing piece of art.”

“As your president I’m going to do everything I can to unleash the power of the American spirit and to put our great people back to work,” Trump said at the time. “This is our mantra: Buy American and hire American.”

Sheikh Ahmed made a point to say the deal will help create more jobs, echoing Trump’s mantra. The deal was signed in the presence of Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who also serves as the United Arab Emirates’ prime minister and vice president.

“The order will take Emirates’ total (number of) wide body aircraft of the Boeing to 204 aircrafts, units worth over $90 billion,” Sheikh Ahmed said. “This is a long-term commitment that supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, not only at Boeing but also throughout the aviation supply chain.”

Boeing wasn’t finished after the Emirates order. It booked a $2 billion deal with Azerbaijan Airlines and finalized an order for 20 737-MAXs.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.