As Boeing Stumbles Emirates Adds 65 Airbus A350-900s to Fleet

UAE’s Emirates airline announced that it has officially received its inaugural A350-900 aircraft, representing a significant advancement in the airline’s fleet expansion strategy. Newly-delivered A350 aircraft is poised to enhance Emirates’ medium and long-haul services, extending the airline’s current network capabilities.

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Emirates maintains a diverse fleet consisting of wide-body aircraft from both Airbus and Boeing, distinguishing itself as one of the rare airlines that exclusively operates wide-body aircraft.

Currently, the UAE carrier’s fleet consists of 116 Airbus A380-800 aircraft, 123 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and 10 Boeing 777-200LR jets.

The airline has placed current orders for a total of 65 A350-900s as part of its comprehensive strategy to bolster Dubai’s Economic Agenda, which aims to integrate 400 additional cities into Dubai’s foreign trade framework over the next ten years. The A350 will be instrumental in the development of the newly announced Dubai World Central (DWC) mega hub, further solidifying Dubai’s status as a leader in global aviation.

The Emirates A350-900 will be equipped with three cabin classes, accommodating a total of 312 passengers, including 32 in business class, 21 in premium economy, and 259 in economy class. Additionally, Emirates will be the first airline in the Middle East to implement Airbus’ innovative HBCplus satcom connectivity solution, providing seamless and high-speed global connectivity.

The A350 is an advanced and efficient widebody aircraft, leading the global long-range segment for 300-410 seat configurations. Its design incorporates cutting-edge technologies, superior aerodynamics, lightweight materials, and next-generation engines, collectively achieving a 25% improvement in fuel consumption, operating expenses, and CO₂ emissions. The Airspace cabin of the A350 is recognized as the quietest among twin-aisle aircraft, boasting a 50% reduction in noise footprint compared to earlier models.

In line with Airbus’s commitment to sustainability, the A350 is already capable of operating with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with a goal to enable 100% SAF compatibility by 2030.

As of the end of October 2024, the A350 Family has secured over 1,340 firm orders from 60 customers around the globe.