Emirates is to take delivery of all 90 of its Airbus A380s by 2017, confirming that the additional 32 ordered today will not be replacements for earlier aircraft.
The Dubai-based carrier's president, Tim Clark, also says that the jets will be fitted with Engine Alliance GP7200 powerplants, in line with the 58 A380s it previously ordered.
Speaking during the ILA Berlin Air Show, Emirates chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum said the jets would all be delivered by 2017.
"Our latest commitement signals Emirates' confidence in the growth to come in a thriving aviation sector," he adds.
The airline took its first A380 in 2008 and says it would not retire these early airframes before 2020. None of the additional 32 jets would be needed for replacement, it states.
Airbus is working to ramp-up production of the type, after battling to smooth the workflow. Chief executive Tom Enders says the first available production slot is in 2015.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
