Emirates has ordered five Boeing 777 freighters, eventually expanding its fleet to 21 of the planes.

The order comes days after Emirates’ boss criticized a fresh delay to Boeing’s new passenger jet, the 777X.

Boeing said in its preliminary earnings for Q3 that the delay would cost it up to $2.6 billion.

Emirates has announced a fresh order for Boeing 777 freight planes, just days after its chairman publicly criticized the embattled planemaker.

Emirates said Monday that it has ordered five more 777F planes as it seeks to expand its freight capabilities alongside its passenger operation.

Combined with its previous orders and existing fleet, the Dubai-based airline will have 21 freight planes overall, almost doubling its current amount.

The planes, which will fly under the airline’s Emirates SkyCargo brand, are expected to be delivered by the end of 2026, Emirates said.

“We’re investing in new freighter aircraft to meet surging demand and provide our customers around the world with even more flexibility, connectivity, and options to leverage market opportunity,” HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, said.

Emirates is one of Boeing’s biggest customers, so a fresh order of Boeing planes is not unusual. However, the timing of the announcement is noteworthy, coming less than a week after sharp criticism of the company from Tim Clark, Emirates’ chair.

After Boeing announced that its much-anticipated 777X passenger jet would be further delayed, Clark said he would have a “serious conversation” with Boeing’s management about the continued setbacks to the plane. Emirates has ordered over 260 of the 777X.

“I fail to see how Boeing can make any meaningful forecasts of delivery dates,” Clark said in a statement to Business Insider.

“Emirates has had to make significant and highly expensive amendments to our fleet programs as a result of Boeing’s multiple contractual shortfalls and we will be having a serious conversation with them over the next couple of months,” he added.

Boeing said earlier in October that it would cut around 10% of its 170,000 workforce and that the first delivery of the 777X would not be ready until 2026, several years after first expected.

Boeing has dealt with the financial fallout from an ongoing strike, which may end this week if workers agree to a 35% pay raise in a vote.

Boeing said in a preliminary third-quarter earnings report that the delay to the 777X plane would cost $2.6 billion.

The 777X is set to become the largest twin-engine jet in operation, with a capacity for more than 400 seats. This aligns with the Dubai government’s intention to expand Al Maktoum International airport to make it the world’s largest hub by capacity.

When contacted by Business Insider, Emirates declined to comment beyond its statement announcing the order.