Boeing Company (BA) had a busy Monday, announcing two substantial orders from major airlines that should help pad its increasingly important order backlog.

Emirates Doubles Down on the 777X

Emirates placed its third order for Boeing's 777X aircraft, adding 65 777-9 passenger jets to its existing commitments. This isn't exactly a new relationship—Emirates was a launch customer for the 777X family and had already ordered 205 aircraft across two previous deals.

The latest purchase brings Emirates' total 777X order to 270 planes, spanning both the 777-9 and 777-8 models. That makes the Dubai-based carrier Boeing's largest 777X customer by a comfortable margin.

The timing makes sense when you consider Boeing's 2025 Commercial Market Outlook, which projects demand for nearly 3,000 new jets in the Middle East over the next 20 years. Widebody aircraft are expected to drive much of that growth, and Emirates clearly plans to capture a significant share of that market.

Ethiopian Airlines Expands Its 737 MAX Fleet

Separately, Ethiopian Airlines announced it's purchasing 11 additional 737 MAX jets from Boeing. The order consists of 737-8 aircraft designed to support the airline's expanding regional and international operations, particularly around its Addis Ababa hub.

Ethiopian Airlines depends on the 737 MAX fleet's efficiency and range for high-frequency routes across Africa, the Middle East, India, and Southern Europe. The airline already operates Africa's largest Boeing fleet and holds the continent's biggest backlog of 737 MAX, 777X, and 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Building Momentum

These deals follow another win last week when Uzbekistan Airways converted options into a firm order for eight 787 Dreamliners, bringing that airline's total 787 commitment to 22 widebody jets.

For Boeing, securing major orders from established customers in growing markets provides some much-needed positive momentum as the company works to strengthen its commercial aviation business.

Price Action: BA shares were trading higher by 0.27% to $195.04 premarket at last check Monday.