Emirates beyond A380s: how the fleet will change in the coming years

From an airline with only two aircraft models to a more diverse fleet. In the coming years. Emirates will receive a series of aircraft that will change its configuration and, likely, also affect the Emirates carrier's network.

As of 2016 to date, in fact, Emirates is recognized as a the only one of the big companies airlines to have only widebody aircraft and specifically only two types of aircraft: the superjumbo A380 and the Boeing 777 for a total of 263 aircraft (almost half are Airbus double deckers).

The A380-based model

In the past, the company's fleet also included Airbus A330s and A340s that have since been "retired" over the years. The carrier's latest orders, however, include 50 Airbus A350-900, 115 Boeing 777Xs (still awaiting certification) and 30 Boeing 787-9s.

According to Planespotters.net, in fact, there would be 118 A380s in the fleet (88 in service and 30 parked); while there would be 144 B777s (4 of them parked).

Between 2010 and 2016, in fact, the Emirates model emerged on the international scene, becoming the only carrier in the world to succeed in "make the A380s join" the network. of connections and enshrining the airline's success globally.

Just in this time frame, double deckers gradually replaced the the A330s and A340s that were part of the Emirati fleet.

The exception to the A380-B777 duopoly at Emirates is the unique A319 - called Emirates Executive - which is a jet dedicated to luxury private or charter travel. The plane has only 19 seats--that is, ten suites--large living and dining areas, shower spa, and powder room.

The change of perspective

With the Airbus A380 and the two Boeing 777 variants (-200LR and -300ER) over the past seven years Emirates has imposed its long-haul flight model by focusing on theEurope-Middle East-Asia-Pacific axis and concentrating all traffic on the international airport of Dubai.

This model has been challenged by the pandemic, so much so that the future of the "giant of the skies" has been questioned several times and Airbus decided not to produce any more new models.

Despite the great return of demand for flights from 2022 onward, Emirates was therefore forced to change perspective. Although A380s are back in fashion, in fact, the halt in production has prompted Emirates to look for new aircraft for the future.

The fleet of the future

As mentioned above, therefore, new types of aircraft are now waiting to enter the Middle Eastern carrier's fleet with a diversity of models that Emirates has not had for over a decade.

According to the latest order database recorded on major specialized sites, Emirates has ordered:

50 Airbus A350-900s
115 Boeing 777X
30 Boeing 787-9s

Regarding the 777Xs-which are experiencing substantial delays in certification and production (prompting some carriers to change their orders)-Emirates has ordered 19 777-8 aircraft and as many as 96 777-9s (with greater capacity and autonomy).

This means that in the future we will see a slightly more Boeing fleet of Emirates, but mostly with classes and equipment also very different from each other.

The A350 order, however, initially includes a portion of A330-900 aircraft. After the pandemic, however, Emirates turned to a order of only A350s.

For both A350s and B787s, the first deliveries should have been made as early as May 2023; but the crisis in the Supply chains and production delays of Boeing and Airbus have moved first deliveries to mid-2024 for the first models of both aircraft.

For the 777X we still travel in the realm of speculation, but according to the CEO of Emirates, Tim Clark, by the end of 2025 could see the first Boeing 777X land in Dubai.

By 2030, therefore, the airline's fleet will have six different models: A350-900, A380, B787-9 - the old B777-200LR and B777-300ER - and the new B777-9.

In the next decade, however, the old 777s and much of the A380s should begin to disappear, although Emirates plans to operate the double decker until 2040. And the saga continues.

• A380