50 Boeing 777s has been placed by Emirates.

The total deal unveiled at the Dubai Air Show is worth $26 billion when options to buy a further 20 of the wide body twinjets and other agreements are included.

The agreement is the largest commercial order by value in Boeing’s history. Delivery of the aircraft is scheduled to begin in 2015.

The Dubai-based airline’s chairman Sheik Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum aid the 777 “has served Emirates very well in terms of seat costs”.

Sheikh Ahmed said the new order underlines Emirates' strategy to "expand our long haul destinations and continue to excel as a world leading carrier, connecting the world to Duba