Emirates has officially retired its last non-extended range (ER) Boeing 777-300. This aircraft type has been a workhorse of the Emirates fleet for many years and it is the end of an era for the airline.

What are the details?

On September the 6th, Emirates sent off it's last Boeing 777-300 as published on their Twitter feed. This aircraft was the last of the non-extended range versions of the 777-300, of which Emirates still operates 134 aircraft (Emirates is actually the largest operator in the world of the 777-300ER type).

We've retired the last @BoeingAirplanes 777-300 from our fleet. Fare well and fly high, A6-EMX.

• 16 years in our fleet

• Delivered on 25 June 2003

• 14,961 flights

• 61,375 flight hours

• First flight to LHR

• Last flight to AMM

Image credit: @saeed_AlAli pic.twitter.com/AHl8Bgp6xt

— Emirates Airline (@emirates) September 6, 2019

The Boeing 777-300 found plenty of use for the Middle Eastern airline, carrying 368 passengers; 30 in first class, 84 in business class and 254 in economy. It flew all over the world with its 6,030 nautical miles (11,165 km) range.

They were originally ordered back in 1992 to the tune of over $1bn, backed by the Dubai Royal Family. Emirates would operate 12 of these aircraft over the lifespan of the type, ordering the first way back in 1999 and retiring the bulk of its fleet in 2018.

They were succeeded by the Boeing 777-300ER, which actually carried slightly fewer passengers at 365 onboard, but flew an extra 1,300 nautical miles (7,370 nmi / 13,649 km). Emirates grew to love this model, and went on to order over 100 aircraft.

With the removal of this type of aircraft from the Emirates fleet, the airline has dramatically reduced its lineup to just three types of aircraft. The Airbus A380 (which is being phased out and no longer built), the Boeing 777-300ER and 777-200LR (which just got all new Emirates business class cabins).

The 777-300 now enters the history books of other aircraft that have served the airline, such as one 737-300, 18 Airbus A340-500, 29 Airbus A330-200s.

What future orders has the airline made?

Emirates has actually been quite prolific with its ordering over the last few months. It began when Airbus canceled the A380 and Emirates was encouraged to order other aircraft.

From the Airbus family, they ordered 40 Airbus A330-900neos, as well as 30 of the popular Airbus A350-900. Additionally, Emirates will be one of the first airlines to operate Boeing's 777X series, with 35 of the smaller longer-range 777-8 and a colossal 115 Boeing 777-9s. These latter aircraft are actually the replacements of the Boeing 777-300ER's (the last 777-300ER was delivered in December), which in turn were the replacements of the 777-300.

There is also a rumor that the airline is still considering the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and may yet still make an order in the future. Overall, this fleet mixup has been a long time coming and just part of the usual refreshment we see in Middle Eastern airlines.

What do you think? Are you sad to see the old 777-300s go? Let us know in the comments!