Emirates orders 41 planes

Emirates plans to increase its fleet to 125 aircraft by 2012

Airbus announced the mega order at the ongoing Paris Air Show.

Emirates said its order was the biggest in civil aviation history.

Emirates has ordered 21 of the new super-jumbo A380s, two A340-500s and 18 A340-600s, Rainer Hertrich, co-chief executive of Airbus parent company EADS, said at a news conference at the Le Bourget airport.

Emirates had been widely expected to announce plane orders on Monday, divided between Airbus and Boeing. Instead, Boeing was left empty-handed as Emirates announced it would lease 26 Boeing 777-300s — 14 from General Electric Capital Aviation Services and 12 from International Lease Finance Corporation.

The new Airbus order will triple the fleet of the Dubai-government owned airline. By 2012 Emirates will have 125 aircraft – up from the current 44.

Emirates also awarded British engineering firm, Rolls Royce, a hefty contract on Monday.

In an announcement made simultaneously in London and at the Paris Air Show, Rolls Royce said it would provide its Trent 500 engines for 20 long-range Airbus A340s bought by Emirates in a contract worth around $900 million.

The deal additionally includes a maintenance contract for all of Emirates’ A340 fleet.