Dubai, July 30 - The Emirates Airline, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has become the world's largest operator of Boeing 777 planes with the arrival of its 78th aircraft of 777-300ER series configured for long distance journeys, WAM news agency reported Thursday.

Emirates, which still awaits the delivery of another 28 Boeing 777s, is also the only airline to operate every model of the 777 family that include Boeing 777-200s, -200ERs, -200LRs, -300s, -300ERs and freighters.

According to Tim Clark, president of the airline, the Boeing 777s are the backbone of the airline's fleet that fly to six continents from its hub, Dubai.

'The 777 is an excellent aircraft in terms of operating economics, and importantly, the new technologies incorporated within enable us to fit it out with the latest onboard systems and passenger amenities,' said Clark.

'We have configured these aircraft to give us maximum flexibility in terms of route deployment,' he added.

Marty Bentrott, Boeing's vice president of sales for the Middle East, Central and South Asia, said: 'The 777 is the world's most successful twin-engine, long-haul airplane and Emirates has contributed significantly to the program's success.