Boeing gets $13.7 billion boost

Sold 112 jets yesterday in China, Emirates Deals widen 2005 sales lead over Europe’s Airbus

Boeing Co., the second- largest commercial planemaker, won orders yesterday worth a total of $ 13.7 billion ( U. S.) for 112 aircraft from Emirates and China, extending gains in new business this year over Airbus SAS.

Emirates, the Persian Gulf’s biggest and fastest- growing carrier, bought 42 of Boeing’s longrange 777 models worth $ 9.7 billion, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed AlMaktoum, the Emirates chairman, said at the Dubai Air Show. The Chicago- based planemaker signed an agreement with China for 70 narrow- body 737 models worth $4 billion during a visit by U. S. President George W. Bush.

Boeing and Airbus have recorded a doubling in airline contracts this year as travel increases and high oil costs spur demand for more fuel-efficient planes. As of Saturday, Boeing had 659 orders to 494 for Toulouse, France- based Airbus.

Airbus announced orders yesterday from Kuwait worth $ 2.9 billion at the Dubai show in the United Arab Emirates.

“Boeing is doing incredibly well this year,” said Richard Aboulafia, vice president of Fairfax, Virginia- based consulting company Teal Group. “ For the first time in a decade they’re investing the future, spending money on new product development. That has a galvanizing effect and reassures customers they’re committed to the the market so it helps sell all their planes.”

Emirates, which has a current fleet of 83 planes, is scheduled to receive the first aircraft from the order in 2007, and has an option to buy 20 more 777s.

Emirates is already the largest customer for Airbus’ huge doubledecker A380, which made its maiden Mideast flight at the Dubai air show. The 777- 200LR, which earlier this month broke the world distance record for commercial airliners, will also allow Emirates to start nonstop flights to long- range destinations on the U. S. West Coast and in South America, he said. The 777200LR is the world’s longest range commercial jetliner, able to travel more than 20,000 kilometres nonstop, according to Chicago- based Boeing Co. The deal boosts the airline’s order book to 132, with a total value of $ 37.4 billion. Emirates is awaiting delivery of 23 777300ERs, 45 A380s, 20 A340-