Emirates Airline Plans to Add 50 Boeing 777s

Dubai's fast-growing airline Emirates is kicking off the Mideast city's airshow with an order for 50 Boeing 777s.

The list price for the deal is $18 billion, but airlines typically negotiate discounts for large orders.

The announcement was made Sunday by Emirates chairman and CEO Sheik Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum.

Emirates is the Middle East's largest carrier. It is owned by the government of Dubai, which is recovering from a debt-fueled financial crisis that came to a head two years ago.

The carrier is Boeing's largest customer for the wide-body 777. Its young fleet also includes Airbus A330s and A340s, and the double-decker A380.