Emirates Group’s newly-released annual report lists 234 future aircraft deliveries, but makes no mention of the Boeing 787-10s for which Emirates signed in 2017.
These 234 aircraft comprise 40 Airbus A330-900s and 30 A350-900s – a commitment disclosed in February this year – plus 14 remaining A380s and 150 Boeing 777X twinjets.
But the fleet plan omits the 40 787-10s and the annual report notably does not refer at all to the 787 model.
Dubai Interntaional Airport
Emirates unveiled a $15 billion agreement for 787-10s at the last Dubai air show, stating that the aircraft would be delivered in 2022.
But the airline has not made an engine selection for the 787s and they are not included on Boeing’s order backlog.
The carrier had listed the 40 787-10s in its previous annual report, for 2017-18, declaring them as “authorised and not contracted”.
They had been among 262 future deliveries alongside the 150 777Xs, 12 remaining 777-300ERs, and 60 A380s.
Emirates says it took delivery of six 777-300ERs in 2018-19, including its final one, indicating that six others were shelved.
It phased out 11 older 777s, including six 777-300ERs, four -300s and a single 777F, resulting in a net reduction of five aircraft in its 777 fleet, from 166 to 161 at the end of March 2019.
Emirates received seven of the 60 A380s in 2018-19 but is cancelling 39 others, committing to taking only 14 more of the type.
Airbus has yet to record formally the Emirates A380 cancellations or its intended $21 billion order for the 70 A330-900s and A350-900s.
In parallel with the Emirates order rejig Airbus is terminating production of the A380 in 2021.
Emirates president Tim Clark says the carrier remains a “strong believer” in the A380 programme, despite the Airbus decision.
“We have been reviewing our fleet mix options for some time now, so converting some of our A380 orders into A330neos and A350s gives us the required flexibility,” he says in the annual report. There is no reference to the 787.
Over the current financial year, 2019-20, the airline will receive six A380s and withdraw eight 777s, says Clark, to keep the fleet “strong and young”.
Clark also states that Emirates will invest in the introduction of premium-economy seating on the A380 in 2020 which, he adds, means the “iconic” aircraft will “continue to ‘wow’ our customers”.
The airline says it is also finalising “bespoke” cabin designs for its 777X fleet, deliveries of which will begin in 2020. Emirates is taking 115 777-9s and 35 777-8s.
Emirates’ overall fleet total rose by two aircraft over the course of the 2018-19 financial year, from 268 to 270. These comprised 138 777-300ERs, 10 777-200LRs, a single 777-300 and 12 777Fs, plus 109 A380s.
latestnewsmainpage
Source: Cirium Dashboard
