Dubai: Emirates airline signed a contract for 20 Airbus A380 aircraft and 16 options, firming up a memorandum of understanding on the order signed last month.

The total agreement for 36 aircraft is valued at $16 billion (Dh58.77 billion), with deliveries of the aircraft set to begin in 2020.

The deal was signed on the sidelines of the World Government Summit, and brings Emirates’ commitment to the A380 programme to 178 aircraft. The carrier currently has 101 A380s and an order backlog for 41 aircraft.