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![Emirates To Order More A380s [EN] Empty](https://2img.net/i/empty.gif) | | Subiect: Emirates To Order More A380s [EN] Joi 19 Noi 2009, 23:47 | |
| Titlu: Emirates To Order More A380s [EN]
Sursa: www.airliners.net
Autor: ****
Data: 17.11.2009
Link: AICI - Citat :
- Airline president says Emirates could use another 20 A380s in addition to its existing order for 58
Emirates is looking at placing an order for more Airbus A380s and other aircraft as the airline is reevaluating its fleet plans in the wake of the economic downturn and a changed schedule for the new Dubai International Airport.
President Tim Clark told AviationWeek that Emirates could use an additional 20 A380s on top of its existing order for 58 aircraft. Whether it goes ahead with its plans will depend greatly on whether Dubai International Airport can accommodate the additional aircraft at the existing facilities, and at the new Terminal 4, which is currently under construction.
One important reason behind the considerations is the delayed construction of Dubai's new al-Makhtoum International Airport in Djebel Ali. Although the first stage of the new site will be opened by next summer, Clark says it will take eight years for the facility to have been sufficiently expanded for Emirates' needs. But major construction work has been pushed back by Dubai's government because funding has proved difficult as a result of the global financial crisis. Dubai as a whole has pulled back significantly on many of its prestige projects such as two more artificial palm islands off its coasts and a new world's tallest building, Al-Burj.
If Emirates wants to expand further, it will have to use larger aircraft because DXB's two-runway system has limited capacity. "The reason why we initially ordered 58 A380s was because we could not fit any more into the existing infrastructure," says Clark. "We are now talking to the airport about how to accommodate more."
A new supplementary fleet plan is also evaluating if Emirates could pick up delivery slots freed up by other airlines. The airline would likely look at more Boeing 777-300ERs. Its existing order for 70 A350s might be changed, too. Today, the airline has signed up for 50 A350-900s and 20 A350-1000s, "but we might invert that" to increase capacity. Emirates is also looking at a letter of intent signed last year for 30 Airbus A330-300s and A350s. It was supposed to have been converted into a firm order by the end of 2008, but Emirates did not go ahead due to the economic uncertainty. But Clark said Airbus has reassured the airline that the deal is still in place from its point of view. Clark indicates that the A330s could end up being too small given the slot constraints at its home base.
Separately, Emirates may delay the phase out of aircraft that it was planned to start in mid-2010. Between 2010 and 2013, the airline wanted to get rid of its 29 A330-200s, all remaining 777-200s and 777-300s, as well as its A340-300s. That process could now start several months later in order to provide interim capacity.
Clark says Emirates would sell the 10 A340-500s it has because they have turned uneconomical with the high fuel prices, but there are no buyers. The carrier is no longer considering an order for the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental because it believes that before long the A380 can do the missions from Dubai to the U.S. West Coast.
Emirates currently has 53 A380s on firm order in addition to 70 A350s and 23 Boeing 777-300ERs. Alex | |
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