EMIRATES TO PURCHASE PLANES

EMIRATES TO PURCHASE PLANES    Emirates said it will purchase six Boeing 777-300s.
   The national airline of the United Arab Emirates operates two B777-300s and has two ordered for delivery, one later this year, the other in the first quarter of 2001.
   Delivery of the six new orders is scheduled for 2002 and 2003. The additional order will bring Emirate's fleet to 10 B777-300s, as well as nine B777-200s.
   Emirates has also formally committed to purchasing the big Airbus A3XX aircraft from Airbus Integrated Co. The airline signed a contract to purchase five passenger A3XXs and two freight versions, with option on five more aircraft. The doubledeck, 555-seat passenger planes will be delivered starting in February 2006. The freighters, which may carry as much as 150 tons of cargo, will be delivered in the spring of 2008.