Updated: Emirates firms up order for up to 36 additional A380s

qf789 · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:24 am

Emirates have announced a commitment of 36 additional A380's. The commitment includes 20 firm and 16 options

Dubai-based Emirates Airline has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to acquire up to 36 additional A380 aircraft. The agreement was signed this morning at the airline’s headquarters in Dubai by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, and John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer Customers, Airbus Commercial Aircraft. The commitment is for 20 A380s and an option for 16 more with deliveries to start in 2020, valued at US$16 billion at latest list prices.

http://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-re ... a380s.html

Arion640 · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:25 am

Great to see this - never thought it would pull through.

KarelXWB · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:26 am

Well, this was fully expected. Just a small delay at the Dubai air show.

grbauc · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:26 am

Has a passenger Im glad.. A380 have made getting good J class seats possible. Has a Aviation fan im stoked, I love the variety and even though she's not the pretty thing the 747 is its nice to see lined up at LAX. Has a Boeing fan im glad because A healthy Airbus is better for the industry.

ap305 · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:27 am

I am glad the big bird will be around for quite a while yet!

scbriml · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:27 am

Shame they couldn't get this done and dusted for the Dubai air show.

I guess some people will be disappointed. :wink2:

dubaiamman243 · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:28 am

Another order before JL is gone.

Pellegrine · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:29 am

Yup! Pop the vintage Krug. :champagne:

KarelXWB · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:31 am

This should secure production for another 10 years.

"This new order underscores Airbus’ commitment to produce the #A380 at least for another 10 years. I’m personally convinced more orders will follow @Emirates’ example & that this great aircraft will be built well into the 2030s.”

NTLDaz · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:31 am

Great news for the travelling public.

readytotaxi · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:35 am

Great news for Airbus workers.

LTU1011 · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:36 am

As a passenger I couldn't be happier - glad it got some life injected or possible evolution at some point in the 2020s with this commitment

gokmengs · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:42 am

I’m happy as well for the order. Its a great plane to fly on as a passenger, as an aviation fan its a thrill unless you are a fanatic of either A or in this case B, its great variety. I also happen to think A380
Is the most unfortunate timed and most misused aircraft. It has a place in aviation, and it can thrive with few more orders and an upgrade. Congrats to Airbus, EK and us aviation geeks:)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

spacecookie · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:44 am

boom, the plane who all told is dead(me included) is more alive than ever.

Motorhussy · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:44 am

Hopefully this will spur a few incremental orders from other carriers if not new. Congratulations Airbus workers, management and shareholders, as well as EK and the travelling public.

BestWestern · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:44 am

Just when Simon Calder, the travel journalism equivalent of a snake oil salesman, wrote off the aircraft yesterday.

I suppose he will be back to bashing Ryanair and British Airways tomorrow.

gokmengs · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:49 am

With top up orders from few airlines -which I’m expecting from AF, LH and Especially BA, I wonder if Airbus would commit to a NEO?

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vhtje · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:50 am

Are these additional aircraft or replacement aircraft for earlier-build birds?

N14AZ · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:52 am

vhtje wrote:
Are these additional aircraft or replacement aircraft for earlier-build birds?

From EK's press release:

Some of the new A380s we’ve just ordered will be used as fleet replacements.

KarelXWB · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:52 am

vhtje wrote:
Are these additional aircraft or replacement aircraft for earlier-build birds?

Definitely replacement.

macc · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:54 am

Happy to hear! I am flying EK intensively and the A380 is just the most comfortable plane anywhere around, even in Y class.
But really low noise level and just the feel of space is a real improvement over most if not all other aircrafts in the market.

I think it just needs 5 more years and we will see demand for this bird starting to increase again. Without the financial crisis, she would be there already I believe.

Richard28 · Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:58 am

Will these new aircraft have the new winglets which airbus were pushing with the A380 plus version?

flee · Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:03 am

This is an MoU and there was no mention of engine selection - its more than likely going to be RR.

flee · Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:06 am

gokmengs wrote:
With top up orders from few airlines -which I’m expecting from AF, LH and Especially BA, I wonder if Airbus would commit to a NEO?

This order will enable Airbus to tick over until new engine technology is available. I think we should get an answer in about 3 to 5 years.

qf789 · Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:13 am

Flightglobal Analysis on the order EK A380 order

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... f179549279

Kikko19 · Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:17 am

love the whale as well as pax and spotter, hopefully they'll be able to get new engines and with winglets would be ordered also by others!

zkojq · Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:19 am

Wonderful news though I'd imagine that all the Airbus haters will be very bitter right now.

SurlyBonds · Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:28 am

macc wrote:
Without the financial crisis, she would be there already I believe.

Bingo.

itisi · Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:30 am

zkojq wrote:
Wonderful news though I'd imagine that all the Airbus haters will be very bitter right now.

Oh they will

EK413 · Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:33 am

This will most certainly keep the program alive until Airbus finally push forward with the Neo program.

EK413

keesje · Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:33 am

No surprise.

FlyRow · Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:38 am

^^
They'll say a 747-8 order by Emirates is next!

KarelXWB · Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:40 am

FlyRow wrote:
They'll say a 747-8 order by Emirates is next!

Who are "they"?

Arion640 · Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:43 am

flee wrote:
This is an MoU and there was no mention of engine selection - its more than likely going to be RR.

The airlive.net article mentions they are evaluating options for the engines. I'd say they will move torwards an all rolls fleet.

I think with the line staying open this could pave the way for a NEO if things change enough. I also think we could see firther SIA replacement orders in a few years.

flee · Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:47 am

FlyRow wrote:
^^
They'll say a 747-8 order by Emirates is next!

Why would EK need a 747-8 when it is already getting the 777-9?

BrianDromey · Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:53 am

At 6 a year, its 6 years of production, good news for Airbus. I think over the next decade it will become clear if the A380 has a future beyond the -800. As global air travel expands and airports become increasingly congested the -900neo [/i]might[/i] be viable. On the other hand, much of the growth is in the "MoM", point to point markets. If these passengers would previously have flown via Hubs, then the VLA market is much more vulnerable.

EK has, uniquely, established a model of point-to-hub flying with VLA's.

Well done Airbus and EK

Jayafe · Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:53 am

Eager to see the A380s with winglets...

bgm · Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:54 am

zkojq wrote:
Wonderful news though I'd imagine that all the Airbus haters will be very bitter right now.

That side of the Atlantic hasn't woken up yet.

rotating14 · Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:57 am

gokmengs wrote:
With top up orders from few airlines -which I’m expecting from AF, LH and Especially BA, I wonder if Airbus would commit to a NEO?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Correction LH and AF are not in the market for more A380s. AF converted its backlog into A350-900s and and LH cancelled its last 3 it had. BA is in the market for more A380s but not new, so no, these airlines are not candidates for top up orders.

giblets · Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:01 pm

Great news for passengers, Airbus and Emirates, one question does remain and that is who is going to pick up the used models that are starting to become available.

mat66 · Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:04 pm

rotating14 wrote:
gokmengs wrote:
With top up orders from few airlines -which I’m expecting from AF, LH and Especially BA, I wonder if Airbus would commit to a NEO?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Correction LH and AF are not in the market for more A380s. AF converted its backlog into A350-900s and and LH cancelled its last 3 it had. BA is in the market for more A380s but not new, so no, these airlines are not candidates for top up orders.

Not now, but things might be different in 6-8 years. Today’s order made this possible.

WIederling · Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:04 pm

BestWestern wrote:
Just when Simon Calder, the travel journalism equivalent of a snake oil salesman, wrote off the aircraft yesterday.

I suppose he will be back to bashing Ryanair and British Airways tomorrow.

hehe.
Lots of loud voices having been given their chance to be wrong.
( there are no situations that make people into idiots
but there are situations that allow idiots to come out :-)

N14AZ · Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:05 pm

giblets wrote:
one question does remain and that is who is going to pick up the used models that are starting to become available.

That will be interesting to follow (or maybe not :duck:

)

Geoff1947 · Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:06 pm

There will be decisions to be taken by all VLA operators, both A380 and 747-8, when the replacement cycle is considered. EK and SQ have already ordered A380s to replace some of their A380s.

Geoff

Jayafe · Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:07 pm

N14AZ wrote:
giblets wrote:
one question does remain and that is who is going to pick up the used models that are starting to become available.

That will be interesting to follow (or maybe not )

Extending production to 2029 with this order (if they take all the 36) will create a much better and secure environment for parts availability and support, likely to have the lessors in a better shape to label the right price in the 2nd hand models and also airlines to bet on those birds. (I still think that the terrible teens should be scrapped)

na · Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:08 pm

Surely great news for (almost;-) all aviation fans.

flee wrote:
FlyRow wrote:
^^
They'll say a 747-8 order by Emirates is next!

Why would EK need a 747-8 when it is already getting the 777-9?

The 779 is mainly a 77W replacement, in the 2020s EK alone will throw 100 77Ws on the used airplane market.

BOAC1966 · Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:13 pm

Excellent news and hope EK new frames have enhancements. This order could trigger orders from BA in much need for additional airframes as 747 fleet showing its age and it should accelerate retirements? The speculated China deal now has more time to materialise and if it does this aircraft may finally come of age!

parapente · Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:18 pm

To be fair I dont think it was a 'certain' order at all.Airbus wouldn't have been 'threatening ' closure of the line if it was a slam dunk.
I note as others have done that Airbus has emphasised how long the line will now remain open.It sounds like this will/should take them through to where all the non RR aircraft have ended their leases - is that right?
So the order has come through and as others have said the opportunity for a 'real' NEO now exists.Would be part of any re engine drive on 787/359'' (GTF's).The timing is certainly more in line.
If they need it , it may give the Chinese confidence too.
The initial RR order was for 52 aircraft I believe.This (max) is for 36.So that's 88 Rolls Royce (if it goes as expected) A388's.
I wonder what Emirates see as an ongoing 'full' fleet? 88? Or perhaps 100?

Mortyman · Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:25 pm

Great news ! So what are the chances that British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines put in an order for 10 new each ... ? None ?

planespotter20 · Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:29 pm

parapente wrote:
To be fair I dont think it was a 'certain' order at all.Airbus wouldn't have been 'threatening ' closure of the line if it was a slam dunk.
I note as others have done that Airbus has emphasised how long the line will now remain open.It sounds like this will/should take them through to where all the non RR aircraft have ended their leases - is that right?
So the order has come through and as others have said the opportunity for a 'real' NEO now exists.Would be part of any re engine drive on 787/359'' (GTF's).The timing is certainly more in line.
If they need it , it may give the Chinese confidence too.
The initial RR order was for 52 aircraft I believe.This (max) is for 36.So that's 88 Rolls Royce (if it goes as expected) A388's.
I wonder what Emirates see as an ongoing 'full' fleet? 88? Or perhaps 100?

I’m thinking that when Airbus was being very vocal about ending a380 production if they didn’t get the EK deal, it was more of a marketing tactic than serious talk.

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