Emirates President Tim Clark Interview Video

At the 2025 Dubai Airshow, Emirates Airline President Sir Tim Clark spoke candidly with Dan Murphy on CNBC about the carrier’s landmark $38 billion commitment to Boeing for 65 777-9 aircraft. Despite Boeing’s recent hurdles, including certification delays and reputational challenges, Clark said he sees “no reason why what has happened in the last decade cannot be fixed.”

Clark reaffirmed Emirates’ long-term partnership with Boeing, underscoring that the order—while huge in value—targets a future growth phase rather than short-term fixes. “We remain absolutely committed to Boeing’s next-generation widebody platform,” he said, pointing out that delivering the 777-9 will solidify Emirates’ position as the world’s largest 777 operator and anchor Dubai’s evolving role as a global aviation hub.

Clark did not ignore Boeing’s recent problems. He acknowledged the “corporate-reset” Boeing is undergoing—including renewed production processes, workforce commitments and external scrutiny—and emphasized that his confidence is based on Boeing’s ability to correct course. “What matters most,” Clark said, “is that Boeing produces safe, quality aircraft. If they do that, we’ll buy them in large numbers.”

When asked whether pressure from governments—particularly the U.S. government—might accelerate Boeing’s turnaround, Clark responded diplomatically: “Naturally, the employment implications in the U.S. Northwest mean everyone has skin in the game. We’ll keep an eye, but our decision is driven by what’s best for our operations.” He noted that Emirates expects the first 777-9 deliveries in 2027, aligning with the airline’s ambitious network-expansion timeline.

Beyond vehicle procurement, Clark emphasized the strategic role of this order in enabling Emirates’ broader growth. With Dubai’s ambitious plans for a second hub at Dubai World Central and a five-runway airport under development, the new widebodies will allow Emirates to enter new markets, increase frequency and raise capacity while maintaining premium service standards.

In wrapping up the interview, Clark reiterated that while Boeing’s journey to recovery won’t be easy, the fundamentals remain intact. “We are confident,” he concluded, “that Boeing will get it right—and we’ll be ready when they do.”

Emirates is exploring the next evolution of long-haul aircraft by advocating for stretched versions of the world’s largest twinjets — the Airbus A350-1000 and the in-development Boeing 777-9. Leading the initiative, Emirates Airline President Tim Clark has urged both manufacturers to begin feasibility studies on potential “growth variants,” to replace its A380 fleet in the 2030s. He also emphasized that in the world of widebody aircraft development, the next decade is “practically tomorrow.” While Airbus faces technical limitations in stretching the A350-1000 due to current engine performance constraints, Boeing has begun internal studies on a possible 777X stretch. Clark noted that a larger version of the 777-9 — informally referred to as the 777-10 — would likely not be available until well into the 2030s, whereas a longer-range or higher-capacity A350 variant could reach the market sooner, given its existing production base and certification pathway.