Emirates has signed a purchase agreement for 50 Airbus A350-900s, worth US$ 16 billion (AED 58.7 billion) at list prices. The deal replaces the heads of agreement signed in February where Emirates announced its intent to purchase 30 A350s and 40 A330neos. Powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, the Airbus A350-900 has a range of up to 15,000 km that will enable Emirates to serve a range of new markets, not only in region but also on long-haul missions of up to 15 hours of flying time from Dubai.
Emirates intends to equip its A350s with its latest products, and offer different cabin configurations including Premium Economy. The agreement was signed at the Dubai Airshow 2019 by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and Guillaume Faury, Airbus Chief Executive Officer.
Faury said, “We are honoured by Emirates’ strong vote of confidence in our newest widebody aircraft, taking our partnership to the next level. The A350 will bring unbeatable economics and environmental benefits to their fleet. We look forward to seeing the A350 flying in Emirates colours!”
Emirates currently operates an all wide-body fleet comprising the iconic Airbus A380 and Boeing 777. From its hub in Dubai, the airline serves over 150 cities on six continents.
Al Maktoum said, “Today, we are pleased to sign a firm order for 50 A350 XWBs, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. This follows a thorough review of various aircraft options and of our own fleet plans. It is Emirates’ long-standing strategy to invest in modern and efficient aircraft, and we are confident in the performance of the A350 XWB. Complementing our A380s and 777s, the A350s will give us added operational flexibility in terms of capacity, range and deployment. In effect, we are strengthening our business model to provide efficient and comfortable air transport services to, and through, our Dubai hub.”
