Emirates is undertaking a major evaluation of fleet upgrade options following the two-year delay to its Airbus A380 order, in a move that could see it roll over its A330 fleet with new aircraft.
The airline's president Tim Clark says the evaluation, which covers whether to upgrade or replace older aircraft, has been prompted by the fact that it has "issues of non-conformity of in-flight product" across its 91-strong fleet of widebodies.
Emirates prides itself in setting new benchmarks for in-flight cabin product offerings as it introduces new aircraft models, but this has resulted in a gulf in the standard of fit between its oldest and newest aircraft. Clark is aware that some regular passengers consciously avoid certain flights operated by older equipment, and says the realisation that its A380s will not be in service for another two years has forced it to reassess its near-term fleet upgrade needs.
The airline has an ongoing evaluation of the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787-10, which would ultimately replace its 29 A330-200s, eight A340-300s and nine 777-200/200ERs from early in the next decade, but Clark says in the near term it is evaluating various alternatives. "We could recycle our existing A330s with refurbished cabins, but one option would be to order new A330s to replace the old aircraft. The A330s would have a good resale value on the secondhand market."
Clark says any discussions with Airbus about the consequences of the new A380 delay, as well as its defunct order for 18 A340-600s and a possible A350 XWB deal, will not begin until early next year after the airline has evaluated the results of its audit of A380 production, which will begin in mid-November (Flight International, 17-23 October). "We will then make a decision on what course of action to take," he says.
Clark says the airframer will need to evolve its A350 XWB design further if it is to secure Emirates as a customer. "We were instrumental in getting Airbus to put a new wing and wider fuselage on the A350, but the [350-seat] -1000 is still not big enough."
Source: Flight International
