In his latest media interaction, Emirates’ boss Tim Clark raised the possibility of adding more A350s to the airline’s order book from the current 65.
“As you know, we’ve had our wings clipped, because of COVID and supply chain delays. We are a frustrated entity because we need airplanes and we need them like now,” Clark said on the sidelines of the delivery of the airline’s first A350-900 aircraft in Dubai, as reported by Zawya.
“Had the 777 9X been delivered to us, we would have 85 [new aircraft] by now. But with the A350 delivery, we are not trying to activate our network and grow it considerably more than what it is today,” he said.
In light of Emirates’ current acceleration of its growth strategy, Clark rejected plans for a sukuk or bond to finance the airline’s expansion, stating that it currently has “plenty of money.”
The aviation industry veteran also declined to comment on any future plans for an initial public offering (IPO), a business strategy that rival Etihad Airways is reportedly considering.
The president of Emirates, who has criticized Boeing’s delays and a strike earlier 2024, stated that the airline’s growth strategy depends on the 64 A350s that are still in order.
Despite the setbacks, the flagship Gulf carrier has no immediate plans to reconsider its 777-9X order, opting instead to monitor Boeing’s manufacturing progress.
Additionally, Clark rejected plans to review the 777x orders with Boeing, stating: “We have to wait and hope they can resolve their current predicament. After the strike ends and the USD 21 billion that was recently invested in the company, I’m hoping that they will use the upcoming months to decide what to do. We are closely monitoring that.”
Newly-appointed Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg announced in October 2024 that the first 777-9 deliveries are now expected in 2026 due to development challenges, the flight-test pause, and the workers’ strike-related work stoppage.
However, things have been running smooth, when it comes to inducting new Airbus jets. Emirates has already received its first Airbus A350, registered as A6-EXA, which also marked the airline’s first new aircraft type addition since 2008, with 64 more A350s slated for future delivery.
The A350 will enter commercial service in January 2025, starting with flights to Edinburgh. The aircraft’s network will expand to include eight more destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and West Asia.
Configured in a three-class cabin, Emirates’ Airbus A350-900 will accommodate 312 passengers, apart from offering 32 flatbed business-class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, 21 premium economy seats, and 259 economy seats.
Emirates has ordered 65 A350-900 aircraft and plans to receive 10 of them by March 2025, underscoring its commitment to fleet enhancement and operational growth.