Emirates announces $16 billion deal to buy 50 Airbus 350

Emirates Airline said yesterday it would buy 50 Airbus 350-900 widebody aircraft in a $16 billion deal, as it reorganises its fleet after cutting orders of the A380 superjumbo. “I am happy to announce we are purchasing 50 Airbus 350 for $16 billion,” the carrier’s chairman and CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum told reporters at the Dubai Airshow, adding that delivery would begin from May 2023.

Its move earlier this year to cut 39 aircraft from its total A380 orders prompted Airbus to pull the plug on the costly plane, which airlines have struggled to fill to its capacity of 500-850 people. At the time, Emirates said it would buy smaller A330 and A350 models instead in a deal worth $21.4 billion.

The airline said that Monday’s announcement “replaces the heads of agreement signed in February where Emirates announced its intent to purchase 30 A350s and 40 A330Neos.” Sheikh Ahmed said the decision “follows a thorough review of various aircraft options and of our own fleet plans.”

The airline said the A350 will enable it to serve a range of new markets, including on long-haul routes up to 15 hours of flying time from its base in Dubai.