Emirates awaits arrival of its newest A380 aircraft

Emirates Airline, the largest customer for the A380 superjumbo, today announced it will receive the first of its 58 A380 aircraft on order from Airbus’ Hamburg facility on 28th July 2008. The 58 A380s on Emirates’ order book are worth US$ 18.8 billion at current list prices.

Emirates’ A380 interiors and onboard product, which has been kept under wraps thus far, will also be revealed for the first time during the delivery ceremony in Hamburg.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group said: “The A380, with its large capacity and excellent operating economics, will be one of the pillars of Emirates' future growth. We've been working very closely with Airbus since the A380 programme’s inception back in 2000, and all through the ups and downs from the drawing board to production, we have remained unshakable in our belief that this is the aircraft for the next chapter of aviation.

Powered by Engine Alliance’s GP7200 engines, Emirates’ A380s are capable of flying up to 15,000km on a full load, and offer fuel economy as low as 3.1 litres per 100 passenger kilometre – which is better than most hybrid passenger cars (4.4 litres per 100 vehicle kilometre). A significant environmental development, the A380 is also quieter, both inside and outside of the cabin, which means more comfort for passengers and a smaller noise footprint.

“Despite the high oil prices, for us, demand remains strong and the A380’s combination of range, capacity and fuel efficiency will help Emirates to continue achieving our growth targets. We very much look forward to receiving our first A380 aircraft next month.”

In its current financial year (ending March 2009), Emirates will receive delivery of five A380s, all featuring its ultra long-haul configuration of 489 seats: 14 in First Class, 76 in Business and 399 in Economy; with 10 tonnes of bellyhold capacity for cargo.

Emirates has already announced plans to deploy its first A380 aircraft on its routes from Dubai to New York, London Heathrow and Sydney-Auckland; and will shortly announce details of its first commercial A380 service.

Emirates currently operates services to 99 cities on 62 countries. Its order book of 180 aircraft (excluding options), worth approximately US$58 billion, is possibly the largest-ever in commercial aviation history. The airline has invested in 58 A380s, and over 100 more new generation aircraft that feature the latest technology and composite materials, because these are more efficient to operate, and produce less emissions while offering travellers more comfort in the air.