EgyptAir Orders 16 Airbus A350-900s, Deliveries Start This Year

At the Dubai Airshow in November 2023, EgyptAir placed a firm order for 10 Airbus A350-900s. Now the airline has increased that order to 16 jets, by converting six options into firm orders. Let’s take a look at all the details, as the first aircraft is expected to be delivered later this year.

EgyptAir will add Airbus A350 to wide body fleet

EgyptAir has placed a firm order for 16 Airbus A350-900s, though the planes will only be delivered gradually. The first A350 is expected to join the fleet in December 2025, six will join the fleet in 2026, three will join the fleet in 2030, and then the remaining six will be delivered between 2030 and 2033. Airbus notes how the A350 offers 25% better fuel burn than previous generation aircraft.

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 A350 will fit 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 now 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 29 Boeing 737-800s, plus 16 Boeing 737 MAX 8s on order
• When it comes to wide body jets, EgyptAir has four Airbus A330-200s, four Airbus A330-300s, five Boeing 777-300ERs, and eight Boeing 787-9s, plus 16 Airbus A350-900s on order

What’s interesting is how prior to 2023, EgyptAir’s narrow body fleet renewal seemed focus 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

I also wonder what kind of a business class product EgyptAir chooses for its A350s. 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.

Bottom line

EgyptAir has placed a firm order for 16 Airbus A350-900s, which the carrier will use to refresh its long haul fleet. These planes are expected to be delivered between late 2025 and 2033, so the delivery schedule will be pretty drawn out.

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 A350 order, 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’s Airbus A350 order?