Emirates Airline placed a $9.7 billion order for wide-bodied Boeing 777 planes on Sunday in a deal that kicked off the Dubai air show and underscored the Gulf’s surging airlines sector. The deal for 42 planes included 10 777-200LR, 24 777-300ER, eight of the 777 freighter version and Emirates Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum told reporters the airline had agreed to take purchase rights for a further 20.

Boeing has now sold 106 of the twin-engined long-range 777 this year, one short of its best result, as high fuel prices spur sales of twin-engined versus four-engined models. The airline will take delivery of the planes between 2007 and 2013, Emirates President Tim Clark told Reuters. US engine maker General Electric said it would provide the engines and maintenance for them for 12 years under a deal worth more than $2 billion.

Sheikh Ahmed said Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, had yet to decide between the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787 for its requirements for new mid-sized planes. “Regarding the 787 and the A350, we haven’t decided yet which way we will go,” he said. Emirates has placed the largest order for the Airbus A380 due to enter service next year. The plane maker is now chasing orders for its newest model, the A350, due in 2010. The Boeing aircraft deal was announced at the opening day of the Dubai airshow and eclipsed the total value of deals done at the same event two years ago.