Emirates Eyes Airbus A350-1000 Order Amid Boeing Delays
Emirates President Tim Clark confirmed that the airline is considering expanding its Airbus order following the arrival of its first A350-900 at Dubai International this week. The airline remains interested in the A350-1000, but is closely monitoring the progress of Boeing’s delayed B777X certification and the ongoing issues with its engines.
Clark emphasized that while Emirates continues to focus on growth, the carrier is facing frustrations due to the delay in receiving new aircraft, especially from Boeing. “We are expansionist but need new planes urgently,” Clark said, referring to the US manufacturer’s struggles with the B777X program. He highlighted the fact that if Boeing had delivered the B777-9 as scheduled, Emirates would already have received 85 new aircraft. Clark remains hopeful that the recent $21 billion injection into Boeing and the end of its workers’ strike will lead to solutions, but for now, the airline is keeping a close watch on the situation.
In the meantime, Emirates is considering a future order for the A350-1000, although the decision depends on Airbus and Rolls-Royce resolving durability concerns related to the Trent XWB-97 engines. “As soon as they resolve those issues and can prove it, we are ready to have a conversation,” Clark stated.
Currently, Emirates has a significant order with Airbus, including 64 remaining A350-900s, which will be delivered between 2024 and 2028. The airline’s future orders with Boeing include 13 B777-200Fs, 35 B777-8s, 170 B777-9s, 15 B787-10s, and 15 B787-8s. Airbus expects that Emirates will receive 25% to 30% of its A350 deliveries in 2025, which could amount to around 12 to 20 A350 widebodies next year.
The Dubai-based airline is set to debut its first A350-900 on January 3, 2025, with a special flight to Edinburgh, marking a new chapter in Emirates’ fleet modernization as it continues to evaluate its options amid industry challenges.
Related News : https://airguide.info/?s=Emirates+Airline
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com