- Delivery milestone celebrated today at a special event and showcase in Dubai
- Airline reveals latest interiors, industry-first technologies and innovations onboard
- Addition of A350 to Emirates fleet primes airline for growth amid robust travel demand
The event, led by Sir Tim Clark,
President Emirates Airline in the presence of His Excellency Abdulla Bin
Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy, was attended by VIP guests,
aerospace partners, government officials and dignitaries, members of the media,
as well as aviation enthusiasts. Guests were able to experience the aircraft’s
interiors, equipped with its next generation products and latest
technologies.
The Emirates A350 features
three spacious cabin classes, accommodating 312 passengers in 32
next-generation Business Class lie-flat seats, 21 Premium Economy seats and 259
generously pitched Economy Class seats. The latest onboard products reflect the
airline’s commitment to delivering a premium passenger experience while
optimising operational efficiency. The Emirates A350 is the first new
aircraft type to join Emirates’ fleet since 2008.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman
and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group said: “Today is an exciting milestone for Emirates as we showcase
our first A350 and usher in a new era for our fleet and network growth. This
aircraft sets the stage for Emirates to spread its wings farther by offering added
range, efficiency and flexibility to our network, enabling us to meet customer
demand in new markets and unlock new opportunities in the cities that we serve.
Onboard, our updated interiors and seating configurations will help us deliver
a more elevated and comfortable experience to travellers across every cabin
class. The 65 Emirates A350s joining our fleet in the coming years fit into the
airline’s broader plans to support our visionary leadership’s Dubai’s D33
Strategy, which will transform the city into a pivotal hub in the global
economy by expanding its connectivity and reach.”
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Phillipe Mhun, Executive Vice
President Programmes & Services for Airbus said: “We are proud to
further expand our strategic partnership with Emirates which has flourished
nearly 4 decades ago with the A300, the A330, the A340 and the A380.
Marking a new chapter for Airbus, we expect the A350 to become an integral
member of the Emirates’ fleet and support its continued growth and
sustainability ambitions.”
Omar Ali Adib, SVP Customer –
Middle East and Africa for Rolls-Royce, said: “The
collaborative effort between Emirates, Airbus and Rolls-Royce exemplifies what
can be achieved when we share a commitment to excellence and build a long-term
partnership that makes us all stronger. With our £1bn investment in durability
across our Trent engine family, we are committed to continuing to evolve and
improve in the years ahead.”
Apart from its newly delivered A350, Emirates operates two
other aircraft types around the world to 140 destinations - the widebody Boeing
777 aircraft and the iconic ‘double decker’ Airbus A380 aircraft. The A350’s introduction
will enable Emirates to expand into new destinations globally,
including mid-sized airports unsuited for larger aircraft. The Emirates A350
will be delivered in two versions - one for regional routes and one for ultra long-haul
routes.
The
airline plans to make its first scheduled commercial A350 flight to Edinburgh
on 3 January 2025. In the months to follow, customers
can look forward to experiencing the Emirates A350 in existing GCC points like
Bahrain, Muscat and Kuwait, Lyon and Bologna in Europe, and Colombo, Mumbai and
Ahmedabad in West Asia in addition to new travel opportunities that are up to
15 hours from Dubai– to be announced in 2025.