By Dominick Andoh | Emirates in an expansionist mode, deploys its first A350 | Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates, says the Dubai-based airline is currently in expansion mode and plans to expand into its new mega airport within the next decade.
Speaking to AviationGhana on the sidelines of the official inauguration of Emirates’ first A350-900 in Dubai, UAE, Sir Clark said: “There are a lot of things going on at the moment. Clearly, Emirates is in an expansionist mode. We’ve got an awful lot of work to do over the next 10 or 15 years. We’ve got the new airport coming into play, hopefully in 2032, 33, 34, and that unlocks a lot of things. So we’re growing into that airport.”
The Emirates A350 features three spacious cabin classes, accommodating 312 passengers in 32 next-generation Business Class lie-flat seats, 21 Premium Economy seats and 259 generously pitched Economy Class seats.
The latest onboard products reflect the airline’s commitment to delivering a premium passenger experience while optimising operational efficiency. The Emirates A350 is the first new aircraft type to join Emirates’ fleet since 2008.
Apart from its newly delivered A350, Emirates operates two other aircraft types worldwide to 140 destinations: the widebody Boeing 777 and the iconic ‘double-decker’ Airbus A380.
The introduction of the A350 will enable Emirates to expand into new destinations globally, including mid-sized airports unsuited for larger aircraft. The Emirates A350 will be delivered in two versions—one for regional routes and one for ultra-long-haul routes. The airline plans to make its first scheduled commercial A350 flight to Edinburgh on 3 January 2025.
Aircraft shortage a major obstacle
Supply chain challenges have made it difficult for aircraft manufacturers to deliver pre-ordered aircraft on time. For instance, Emirates has 65 A350s on order but has only just received the first one.
“The biggest single challenge is the availability of aircraft. We just want more. We can’t get them. We have to muddle through. We ordered it [A350-900] a long time ago. It’s just the time it takes our friends in Toulouse to make the thing and get it out the door. Remember, they’ve been facing supply train constraints for three or four years now,” added Sir Clark.
AviationGhana | Emirates in an expansionist mode, deploys its first A350
