While Emirates Airline already has nearly 200 new planes on order, the airline is preparing to place another aircraft order, to prepare for a future without the Airbus A380.
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Emirates close to ordering more new jets
As reported by Bloomberg, Emirates President Tim Clark has revealed that the Dubai-based carrier is planning to order 100-150 jets, in order to replace Airbus A380s when they retire. The goal is to order aircraft that will be delivered between 2027 and 2033.
This would be in addition to Emirates’ current outstanding aircraft orders, which include the following:
- Emirates has 50 Airbus A350-900s on order, expected to be delivered as of 2024
- Emirates has 30 Boeing 787-9s on order, expected to be delivered as of 2025
- Emirates has 115 Boeing 777Xs (including the 777-8 and 777-9) on order, expected to be delivered as of 2025
For context, Emirates currently has a fleet of around 250 aircraft, consisting exclusively of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s. Emirates is the only airline in the world where the A380 has proven to be a smashing success. Unfortunately with other airlines not sharing Emirates’ excitement for the whale jet, production of the plane ended in 2021.
As a result, Emirates plans to start retiring its Airbus A380s fleet as of 2032, so the plane only has around a decade remaining at the airline. Suffice it to say that any aircraft that Emirates orders wouldn’t have the same capacity as the A380. If Emirates wants to maintain and grow its passenger count, it will need to order a lot of planes to replace the roughly 120 Airbus A380s in its fleet.
What aircraft will Emirates order?
So, which aircraft is Emirates planning on ordering? Clark has made it clear that the airline plans to order more Airbus A350s and Boeing 777s, and maybe some more Boeing 787s.
While this is speculation, here’s how I see this playing out:
- I think it’s a given that Emirates will complement its A350-900 order with some A350-1000s; these are the higher capacity A350s with amazing range and economics, and they’re a better replacement for the A380
- We’ll obviously see more 777Xs, as this will be Emirates’ flagship aircraft once the A380 retires; it still remains to be seen how the order will be spread between 777-8s and 777-9s
- With Emirates having only ordered 30 787-9s, I could see the airline picking up some more of those, as the aircraft will be a good lower capacity alternative to the 777Xs; I’m curious if Emirates could also pick up some higher capacity 787-10s
In the future Emirates definitely won’t have as consistent of a fleet as it currently has. However, that’s logical enough, since you don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket with plane orders, given all the issues we’ve seen over the years (from delivery delays, to planes being grounded).
So yeah, some more 777s and A350s are a given, while more 787s are a possibility. The big question is which variants Emirates will select.
Bottom line
Emirates is expected to order another 100-150 wide body jets in the near future, which the airline will eventually use to replace Airbus A380s. The airline plans to take delivery of these jets between 2027 and 2033. We know Emirates plans to order more Airbus A350s and Boeing 777s, and there could also be a Boeing 787 order as part of this.
Which aircraft (and specifically, which variants) do you see Emirates ordering?
Flying on the A380 from Glasgow in October to Sri Lanka via Dubai.
Flying on the A380 from Glagow in October to Sri Lanka via Dubai.
I want see varient of plans in Emirates. Like being B737 - 8/900.max.and also B787-9/10.with airbus350...
Just hoping when we fly from Birmingham to Dubai next September we get to fly on the A380
I love flying on the A380 so much, hate the 777, cramped noisy!
Most likely scenario is a transition of the 787-9 order for 787-10 aircraft. Emirates is bound to the A350 contract due to previous A380 swap agreements and will have plenty of A350-900s configured in both long-range and regional variations. Due to the EASA mandate for A380 wing inspections, I can only imagine there is a compensation agreement that translates into the A350-1000 variant joining the fleet to the tune of 50-75 aircraft as well as...
Most likely scenario is a transition of the 787-9 order for 787-10 aircraft. Emirates is bound to the A350 contract due to previous A380 swap agreements and will have plenty of A350-900s configured in both long-range and regional variations. Due to the EASA mandate for A380 wing inspections, I can only imagine there is a compensation agreement that translates into the A350-1000 variant joining the fleet to the tune of 50-75 aircraft as well as a top up of A350-900s to the tune of 50 aircraft. If you assume those 787-9s convert to roughly 20 787-10 aircraft, well, there is your 150 order.
Emirates considers the 787-10 as underpowered in hot and high conditions. It's the reason they got the 787-9! Now suddenly everything changes and they decide to get more of a plane Boeing is struggling to deliver in numbers?
It's more likely to see a large A350-1000 order since Boeing is slacking with delivering the 777-9. Even if Boeing starts to deliver in 2025 it's a nerf wrecking situation for an airline CEO to wait...
Emirates considers the 787-10 as underpowered in hot and high conditions. It's the reason they got the 787-9! Now suddenly everything changes and they decide to get more of a plane Boeing is struggling to deliver in numbers?
It's more likely to see a large A350-1000 order since Boeing is slacking with delivering the 777-9. Even if Boeing starts to deliver in 2025 it's a nerf wrecking situation for an airline CEO to wait and see, if GE can solve the issues with the GE9X engine. Then it's better to have a proven, solid alternative at hand, that does the job in many other airlines today.
There is a good chance Airbus will do another A350 stretch when R&R is finally getting the Ultrafan together. It would be the prefect replacement for the A380 - slightly less capacity, but amazing efficient and ultra range.
So book A350 production slots now and get the a stretched A350-xxxx tomorrow.
There is no stretch, that's a far fetched fantasy, even if the a350-1000 is considered it will only be a handfull. Emirates are retrofitting their 777s, even thou not all and will be flying them for a couple more years. The a350-1000 can't fit first class to the specifications emirates requires because it's narrower and Emirates still has 35 777-8s on order. The 777-8 and a350-1000 are two equivalents, with the same ranges and capacities,...
There is no stretch, that's a far fetched fantasy, even if the a350-1000 is considered it will only be a handfull. Emirates are retrofitting their 777s, even thou not all and will be flying them for a couple more years. The a350-1000 can't fit first class to the specifications emirates requires because it's narrower and Emirates still has 35 777-8s on order. The 777-8 and a350-1000 are two equivalents, with the same ranges and capacities, so there is alot of conflict there.
Emirates doesn't seem interested in dropping the 777-8 order, if they did, I could see room for more a35Ks but they are not.
I hate this so much to death.
Hot take: With Rolls-Royce just having reached an important milestone with the new UltraFan engine development, Emirates could become the launch customer of an A350-1000NEO with said UltraFan (or potentially even for a further stretched A350-1100).
I hope they are going to improve their hard product, their 777 business class is horrible. I like Emirates but only on their 380
I think Emirates will standardize on the B777 and A350 families, rather than add the 787. The economics will likely be a lot better.
Think you meant “same capacity as the A380” and not A350.
"...wouldn’t have the same capacity as the A350." Should say A380.