Farnborough, United Kingdom (AHN) – Dubai’s national airline, Emirates, announced Monday at an airshow in Farnborough, England, that it is purchasing 30 Boeing 777 aircraft for $9 billion. European rival Airbus also got 51 orders of single-aisle A320s from U.S. group Air Lease Corporation (ALC).

The Emirates’ order aims to modernize its fleet and make operation efficient, according to chief executive Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

The Dubai airline ordered 32 Airbus superjumbos worth $11.6 billion one month ago. The contract is the biggest in aviation history.

The ALC orders consists of 31 A320s and 20 A321s. The latest versions of Airbus single-aisle aircraft meets ALC’s standards for low operating costs, fuel efficiency, environmental friendliness and maximum operating flexibility, according to chief executive Steven F. Udvar-Hazy.