THE message behind Emirates Airlines' eye-popping order for 50 Boeing 777 jets is as sweet as the record-breaking deal.

Boeing makes a high-quality, profit-enhancing product that an aggressive airline in a competitive industry can trust with its future.

We in Washington already knew that, but the huge deal will reinforce the point with other potential customers. They will certainly notice.

The largest dollar order in Boeing history launched the Dubai Air Show on Sunday. Emirates is already a valued customer, with nearly 100 triple-7s in service and 40 prior orders queued up for production at the Everett plant. Sunday's dazzling commitment for 50 more 777s comes with an option for yet another 20 planes.

The president of Emirates airline was confidently telling reporters Monday his company would have no trouble filling those seats. Boeing's high-performance airliner helped Emirates continue to make healthy profits even as fuel prices climbed.

His words speak to the growing demand for air travel in a world with a global population of 7 billion people. Even the best planes wear out and technology evolves. Recall the first 777 was delivered to United Airlines in 1995.

Pat Shanahan, Boeing's head of airplane programs, said Tuesday the company's "commercial market outlook" over the next 20 years forecasts industry demand for 33,500 airplanes.

The challenge for this state is to be ready to embrace the opportunity, and compete to retain and grow the employment that comes with successful products. For Shanahan that means education: "We don't have enough engineers to do all the work."

Manufacturing a quality product attracts business. Maintenance of those standards is a responsibility that invites all kinds of creative efforts, even in tight economic times. Or, more to the point, especially in a difficult economy.

As the Legislature meets in special session and looks ahead to grim budgetary realities in the 2012 session, recall progress already made.

This year, the University Center of North Puget Sound was set in motion. The collaboration of eight public and private schools on the Everett Community College campus will eventually be headed by Washington State University. Exploit every opportunity to produce engineers and skilled workers to fill jobs in aerospace.

More hiring by Boeing, yes, but do not overlook employment at the 650 aerospace-supply companies in 29 counties across the state. The glorious news out of Dubai has extraordinary reach.