Dubai-based Emirates Airline has placed a firm order for 20 Airbus A380 aircraft with an option for an additional 16 more. The contract is estimated to be worth AED58.7bn ($16bn).

Negotiations between Emirates and the European aircraft manufacturer for the new order began last year, with the signing of a contract expected to take place, but which did not materialise,  in November last year during the Dubai Airshow.

According to Emirates, the additional Airbus A380 aircraft  will be delivered to Emirates from 2020 onwards.

Emirates has a backlog order of 41 A380s. The new order brings the total number of A380 aircraft pending delivery to the airline to 77.

With 101 active A380 fleet, the new order brings the airline’s total commitment to the A380 aircraft model to $70bn, Emirates said in a statement.

It is understood Emirates is still evaluating engine options for the order, which it announced on 18 January.

Emirates’ current fleet of 101 A380 aircraft operates both GE and Roll Royce engines.