MAX KINGSLEY-JONES / LONDON
Airline completing major contracts with Airbus and Boeing as part of its long-term fleet growth plan
Emirates is finalising major deals with Airbus and Boeing for over 50 more aircraft, which will include extra Airbus A380s, a new A340-600 variant and possibly a large order for the Boeing 777-300ER.
The move, which will include the confirmation of commitments announced a year ago at the Dubai air show, underwrites the airline's plan to expand its fleet of 44 widebodies to 110 in seven years' time, says Emirates chief director airline Tim Clark. "We expect to have the deals finalised in the next three to six months," he adds.
The airline already operates 18 777-200/300s, all of which are Rolls-Royce Trent 800-powered, and has three more on firm order. Last November it announced plans to acquire 25 more, as well as eight examples of a proposed extended range version of the A340-600, if Airbus decided to launch it (Flight International, 6-12 November, 2001).
Clark says that the airline is evaluating the Trent 895 and Pratt & Whitney PW4098 version of the baseline 777-300, as well as the longer-range General Electric GE90-powered -300ER. "If we choose the -300ER, then we will take all 25 as this variant," he adds.
Clark says that Boeing and GE are evaluating an increased thrust version of the 115,000lb-thrust (512kN) GE90-115B, rated at 120,000lb, to try to meet Emirates' requirement for year-round operations from its Dubai hub. Although General Electric GE90 advanced product integration manager Dick Ostrom says that the formal requirement for additional thrust "has not surfaced, and Boeing hasn't asked for that capability yet", he adds. "We have always felt there is growth capability beyond 115,000lb."
Meanwhile, Clark says that the A340-600 model "is now offerable and we are talking to Airbus about an order". This aircraft will have maximum take-off weight increased by 8,000kg (17,620lb) to 376,000kg and the thrust of its Trent 500s increased slightly to around 58,000-60,000lb, he says.
Emirates plans to introduce the new A340 variant in mid-2005 on long-range services to Australia and the US East Coast. In April the airline will receive the first of 10 ultra-long- range A340-500s which will launch Emirates' first US services, and direct flights to Australia.
The new deal will include additional undisclosed aircraft orders, including more A380s. Clark will not say how many, only that the order will be on top of its contract for 22 aircraft and 10 options.
Next year Emirates will unveil major upgrades to its premium cabins, which will include increases in seat pitch and a reduction in capacity. "The 777-300's seating will drop from around 380 to 330, which is why we need so many more aircraft," says Clark.
Source: Flight International
