It's now coming up to the end of the year, and one airline that is ending the year on a high is Emirates. In recent weeks, the airline has placed a number of aircraft orders, in addition to inaugurating a new route to Mexico.

A month ago, we saw the city of Dubai hosting its biannual airshow. Taking place once every two years, the show has a large focus on the market in the Middle East. Being headquartered in the same city as the airshow, and helping to make it possible, Emirates was always going to take centre stage at the show. However, the way in which they did this was truly impressive and allowed them to end 2019 on a high.

Airbus A350

Emirates kicked off its presence at the Dubai airshow by placing a significant order. The Middle Eastern giant ordered a total of 50 Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The aircraft are due to begin delivering in 2023, with the order being worth around $16 billion at list prices. Of course, Emirates will have received a discount, however, the actual price paid is always kept as a commercial secret.

Featuring the carrier’s new premium economy, the aircraft will be one of two new types joining the Emirates fleet. As a result, the number of aircraft types in the Emirates fleet will double from two to four. Here’s why:

Boeing 787

Emirates has been playing a bit of a “will I, won’t I” game with regards to the Boeing 787. At the 2017 Dubai airshow, the Middle Eastern airline announced an order for Boeing 787-10 aircraft worth over $15 billion at list prices. However, this order has now been revised.

Emirates will now take only 30 Boeing 787-9 aircraft, while simultaneously reducing the number of Boeing 777X ordered too. The deal was signed on Wednesday, day four of the five-day Airshow. Both Emirates and Boeing were present at the announcement with the deal being signed by Emirates’ CEO Sheikh Ahmed, and the CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Stanley Deal.

Luxurious aircraft cabins

Emirates brought one of each of its aircraft types to the Dubai Airshow. A Boeing 777 with Emirates’ new game-changer first class suite was on display. This was wearing the orange Expo 2020 Emirates livery.

The Boeing 777 was accompanied by an Airbus A380 sporting a refurbished interior. As part of the refurbishment, the aircraft received an all-new bar area. Find out what we thought of the Airbus A380.

New Mexican route

Slightly more recently, Emirates also inaugurated its new route to Mexico City. The fifth freedom route is an extension of the carrier's Barcelona route and sees Emirates flying a daily Boeing 777 service to Mexico. However, launching the route was not as easy as the airline might have hoped. Emirates had to clear a number of hurdles but, in the end, launched the service with the blessing of the Mexican government.

One piece of news that was noticeably absent in 2019 was the plans for the carrier’s new premium economy cabin. However, Sheikh Ahmed did confirm that the first aircraft to receive the new cabin would be an Airbus A380 in November of 2020. Additionally, Emirates didn't firm up its February memorandum of understanding for Airbus A330 aircraft. However, the order hasn't yet been cancelled.

What did you make of Emirates’ presence at the 2019 Dubai Airshow? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!