DUBAI- UAE’s flag carrier, Emirates Airlines (EK) is under negotiations with both Airbus and Boeing for a significant new freighter order, evaluating the A350 and 777X cargo variants to expand its freight fleet from 11 to 35 aircraft by 2030.
Nadeem Sultan, Emirates’ senior vice president of freighters and cargo planning, announced an impending investment decision within weeks to The National at Aviation Future Week.
Emirates New Freighter Order
The Dubai-based carrier faces operational challenges as its current Boeing freighter deliveries experience four to six-month delays. This capacity constraint emerges amid heightened demand for air cargo services and ongoing industry-wide delivery setbacks.
The airline’s expansion strategy confronts significant hurdles, including Boeing’s 777X program delays and Rolls-Royce engine durability issues affecting the A350 fleet. These technical challenges compound the industry’s production backlog, creating a three to four-year waiting period for new aircraft deliveries.
Emirates currently operates 11 Boeing 777 freighters. The airline initiated a replacement order in July 2024 to address expiring leases.
Boeing 777 aircraft’s GE90 engine supply constraints have disrupted the planned delivery timeline for Dubai-based carrier
The new 777F acquisitions target the replacement of aging DAE Capital leased aircraft. Emirates has phased out four leased 777F units while integrating two new freighters in 2022.
The carrier maintains 11 leased freighters manufactured between 2012 and 2015 with an average age of 8.4 years as of October 2024.
777-300ER Conversions
Emirates will dispatch its first Boeing 777-300ER to Etihad Engineering for conversion under Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) supervision. This marks the beginning of Emirates’ ten-aircraft conversion program to 777-300ERSF freighters.
The selected aircraft currently serve passenger routes, with the initial conversion pending IAI’s Supplemental Type Certificate approval. Emirates maintains flexibility for additional 777-300ER conversions beyond the initial agreement.
Regional competitors have established clear cargo fleet strategies. Etihad Airways (EY) secured seven Airbus A350F orders in 2022, while Qatar Airways (QR) leads Boeing’s 777-8F program with thirty-four orders. Qatar Airways continues expanding its current-generation 777F fleet simultaneously.
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