The aircraft is Emirates' fifth Boeing 777-300ER from a total of 30 that the airline has on firm order. The remaining 25 Boeing 777-300ERs will be added to the airline's rapidly-expanding fleet by end 2007.

The wide-bodied, twin-aisle aircraft dubbed as one of the most advanced aircraft in the sky has been specially equipped to Emirates' demanding standards. Its innovative on-board features include mood-lighting that helps reset body clocks and minimizes jetlag; Emirates' Information, Communication and Entertainment (ICE) system which offers over 500 channels of video, audio and games on demand; noise cancellation headsets; SMS and e-mail from one's seat and in-seat five-zone massage system.

Ideal for long-haul routes, the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft - sporting a 12 metres long Emirates logo on its underside - is currently operated on services from Dubai to Manila, and Dubai to Sydney and Auckland, via Bangkok. Later this year the aircraft will be introduced on routes to London Heathrow, Manchester, Glasgow, Johannesburg and Düsseldorf.

Expressing pride at Emirates' unprecedented expansion, Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: "Starting with just two leased aircraft - a Boeing 737 and an Airbus 300 B4 - Emirates has grown at a blistering pace, increasing its fleet to 80 aircraft in almost 20 years. Today Emirates operates one of the most modern fleets in the world, with an average aircraft age of only 55 months."

"Intense demand for the airline's services prompted Emirates to embark on an ambitious US$ 30 billion fleet expansion.," added Mr. Clark. "We plan to introduce 21 new aircraft, adding more than one aircraft every month to our fleet, from now until the end of 2006."

The Emirates fleet is forecasted to touch the 100-mark, thereby entering into triple digits for the very first time by end 2006.

Emirates' impressive order book worth almost US$30 billion in list prices consists of orders for 93 aircraft including 45 Airbus A380s (two of them freighters), 25 Boeing 777-300ERs, 20 Airbus A340-600 HGWs, one A340-500 and two A310-300F freighters.