Middle Eastern carrier Emirates is set to receive its first Rolls-Royce-powered Airbus A380 on 16 December, after resolving last-minute technical hitches.
Speaking at an event in London on 7 December, president Tim Clark said the outstanding matters with the Trent 900 engines for the Dubai-based carrier were “all done”.
“There were some issues with performance,” he said. “But we have come to a satisfactory conclusion.”
Clark describes the resolution as a “technical fix and a commercial dressing”, and confirms that the initial Trent-powered A380 will be handed over on 16 December.
“There is just a high intervention rate, that’s all, and [Rolls-Royce] is taking care of everything – so we are neutral to the repercussions of it,” he says.
Emirates has taken delivery of 15 A380s so far this year, bringing its fleet of the type to 87, all fitted with Engine Alliance GP7200 powerplants.
The carrier has ordered a total of 142 A380s including up to 50 with the Trent 900 engines.
Clark had been holding out for a possible re-engined A380 but says the “odds are against” such a development.
Rival United Arab Emirates carrier Etihad Airways also uses A380s with GP7200 engines. It has an order for 10, of which it has received eight.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
