Emirates is becoming increasingly patient as it modernizes its fleet. Now it is clear: not only Boeing 787 and 777X arrive later than originally planned.
The modernization of Emirates’ fleet is faltering. The airline from Dubai has complained several times vociferous regarding the Boeing 777X delays, of which she ordered 115 copies. The first copies will arrive in 2025 at the earliest.
Airline President Tim Clark recently threatened that Cancel the order for the 30 Boeing 787-9s that were also ordered and also delayed. “We’re reviewing the whole situation and will see if the 787 has a place in the fleet or not,” Clark said.
A350 order resulted from A380 cancellation
But the problem is not limited to Boeing aircraft. Emirates operations chief Abdel Adel Ahmad Al Redha told the newspaper Emirates Al Youm, his airline will receive the first Airbus A350 “in August 2024”. Emirates had ordered 50 A350-900s at the Dubai Air Show in 2019 – at that time there was talk of 2023 for the first delivery.
The background to the A350 order was the cancellation of 39 Airbus A380s by Emirates in February 2019. The airline first signed one as a replacement Letter of Intent for 30 A350-900 and 40 A330 Neo. It never became a firm order. Instead, Emirates signed in November 2019 the firm order for 50 A350-900.
Wait and convert
The Emirates fleet currently consists of Boeing 777 and Airbus A380. From these planes the airline is now increasingly converting for a longer service life.