At the Dubai Airshow in November 2023, EgyptAir placed a firm order for 10 Airbus A350-900s. Then in June 2025, EgyptAir increased that order to 16 jets. There’s now an exciting update (well, if you’re interested in EgyptAir), as the airline has taken delivery of its first of these modern jets.
In this post:
EgyptAir starts taking delivery of Airbus A350 jets
EgyptAir has a firm order for 16 Airbus A350-900s, though the planes are being delivered gradually. The first A350 has just joined the fleet — it has the registration code SU-GGE, and has just flown from Toulouse (TLS) to Cairo (CAI).
The expectation is that seven A350s will join the fleet in 2026, three will join the fleet in 2030, and the remaining six will be delivered by 2033. So it’s quite a gradual delivery timeline, beyond the initial rush of planes. Airbus notes how the A350 offers 25% better fuel burn than previous generation aircraft.
EgyptAir’s A350s boast 340 seats in a two-cabin configuration, with 30 business class seats and 310 economy class seats. I haven’t yet seen any pictures of the new cabins, so if I’m missing anything, please let me know. The airline notes how the new business class features direct aisle access, but those are all the details I’ve seen.
The airline has reverse herringbone seats on its 787s, so perhaps it’ll just go with those seats again. However, since EgyptAir isn’t big about consistency, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a different product either.
Here’s how EgyptAir CEO Ahmed Adel describes this order:
“We are continuously working to modernise our fleet and deliver a more comfortable and optimised travel experience. This collaboration with Airbus builds on a long-standing relationship that spans decades, marked by multiple successful deals and strategic partnerships in the aviation sector. Today’s announcement reflects our commitment to integrating the next-generation aircraft into our fleet. It will enable us to meet rising demand for long-haul travel, support our network expansion plans over the next five years, and contribute to Egypt’s broader efforts to promote more sustainable air transport.”
How the Airbus A350 fits into EgyptAir’s fleet
Some airlines embrace the concept of fleet commonality, and all the efficiency that comes with that in terms of maintenance, scheduling, crew training, and more. EgyptAir isn’t one of those airlines.
EgyptAir’s fleet currently consists of around 65 aircraft, with 34 aircraft on order. EgyptAir doesn’t have a terribly cohesive or efficient approach to aircraft acquisitions:
- When it comes to narrow body jets, EgyptAir has eight Airbus A320neos, seven Airbus A321neos, and 30 Boeing 737-800s, plus 18 Boeing 737 MAX 8s on order
- When it comes to wide body jets, EgyptAir has five Airbus A330-200s, four Airbus A330-300s, five Boeing 777-300ERs, and eight Boeing 787-9s, plus 16 Airbus A350-900s on order (which are now starting to be delivered)
What’s interesting is how prior to 2023, EgyptAir’s narrow body fleet renewal seemed focused on the A320neo family, while the wide body fleet renewal seemed focused on the 787. But then the airline also placed a 737 MAX and A350 order. Also keep in mind that EgyptAir briefly operated a fleet of 12 A220-300s, but those planes have already been removed from the fleet.
I’m curious if the A350s will just be used for growth, or will replace some existing aircraft. I have to imagine it’s the latter, at least to some extent:
- In terms of capacity, the A350 is the best replacement for the 777, and EgyptAir’s 777s are an average of 15 years old, which isn’t that old
- The A330s are the oldest planes in EgyptAir’s fleet, and are an average of around 18 years old, so logically you’d think that those are most in need of replacing; replacing A330s with A350s would be quite the capacity upgrade
Bottom line
EgyptAir has a total of 16 Airbus A350-900s on order, which the carrier will use to refresh its long haul fleet. The first of these planes has just been delivered, and seven should be delivered by the end of 2026, with the remaining frames delivered by 2033. So it’s a pretty drawn out delivery schedule.
It’s interesting to see EgyptAir using 787s and A350s for long haul fleet renewal, and 737 MAXs and A320neos for short haul fleet renewal. While I’m intrigued by EgyptAir’s A350s, unfortunately this is a plane I probably won’t be flying anytime soon, unless EgyptAir starts operating more fifth freedom flights… 😉
What do you make of EgyptAir adding the Airbus A350 to its fleet?
Sadly, this shameful apology of an airline remains the only Arabic-speaking member of the Star Alliance, when Oneworld now has four. I wish an airline like Gulf Air from the Middle East were to join Star, seeing as MS is in no shape or position to improve its abysmal standing in terms of product, no matter how many A350s, A321neos and 787s it may buy. ET suffers from product inconsistency but has more heart by far, and deserves to be Africa’s largest airline.
Egypt is one of those countries that has to buy from both Airbus and Boeing and have fleet complexity because of it but it is telling how many global airlines other than AA and UA have widebodies from both Airbus and Boeing.
What’r you talking about, Tim? Many international airlines have both Airbus and Boeing widebodies. Delta used to as well, and will soon enough again if the 787 order is fulfilled.
Delta DOES have Boeing widebodies - the 767s - as well as Airbus widebodies.
American and United appear to be allergic to sample from the best the world has to offer.
EgyptAir is more in line w/ the majority of global airlines in fleet diversity and DL, but not AA and UA, is in that camp.
Ben, when will we be seeing your flight review on this plane? ;)
Any 5th freedom routes out there for MS?