Emirates has taken delivery of the first of eight ex-Singapore Airlines (SIA) Airbus A340-300s - from Boeing. The US manufacturer acquired the aircraft, which are being leased by Boeing Aircraft Trading to Emirates for nine years, as part of a trade-in deal with SIA for 777s.
The A340s, which are the first -300s to join Emirates' fleet, have been reconfigured by Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg, where the first aircraft is pictured being handed over by Boeing Aircraft Trading sales director Boyd Brown to Emirates president Tim Clark.
The 267-seaters will enter service on 1 March from the Dubai hub, serving Casablanca, Johannesburg, Osaka, Perth and Shanghai.
Emirates recently introduced the first of eight A340-500s into service. The airline also flies 29 A330-200s and has 20 A340-600s on order. It will cross-qualify its pilots to fly both types.
Boeing has now placed or sold all 17 A340-300s acquired from SIA. Other lessees include China Airlines, Gulf Air and Cathay Pacific.
Source: Flight International
