DUBAI- The most awaited aircraft in Emirates Airlines (EK) fleet, the Airbus A350 again faces uncertainties in the launch due to delivery delays and is now scheduled to make its debut in 2025.
Emirates first Airbus A350 registered as A6-EXA was scheduled to be delivered in September and began its commercial debut in October. However, the supply chain issues and new interior installation hurdles have affected the delivery timeline multiple times.
Emirates A350 Launch Slips in 2025
As we reported earlier, Emirates A350 was scheduled to operate its first commercial flight on December 16, 2024, but that seems unlikely as the new schedule shows a launch in January, and that is also skeptical.
Emirates on October 22, 2024, operated its fourth test flight and longest one, lasting almost seven hours at Toulouse (TLS).
According to Aeroroutes‘ latest update, Emirates revised the service schedule for its Airbus A350-900XWB fleet, delaying the initial launch from December 16, 2024, to January 15, 2025.
The new deployment schedule affects multiple routes across Emirates’ network.
- Edinburgh (EDI) will be the inaugural A350 destination, launching January 15, 2025, replacing the previously planned December 16, 2024 start. Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will operate the Edinburgh route during the interim period from December 16, 2024, to January 14, 2025.
- February 2025 marks the A350’s expansion to several key routes. Emirates will deploy the aircraft to Ahmedabad (AMD) and Mumbai (BOM), both delayed from January 16, 2025. Additional February launches include services to Bahrain (BAH) and Kuwait City (KWI).
- March 2025 sees further network growth with A350 commencing flights to Colombo (CMB) on March 1, followed by Bologna (BLQ) on March 15.
Emirates’ A350-900 will feature a three-class configuration accommodating 312 passengers. The layout comprises 32 business class flatbeds arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration across eight rows, 21 premium economy recliners, and 259 economy seats.
Emirates has around 65 Airbus A350-900 aircraft on order and it expects to receive 10 of them by March 2025.
Boeing 777 Service Agreement with GE
GE Aerospace secures a decade-long services agreement with Emirates Airlines to maintain the electrical load management systems for the carrier’s Boeing 777 fleet.
The partnership encompasses maintenance support from GE’s Cheltenham, UK facility for Emirates’ 143 aircraft, representing the world’s largest Boeing 777 operation.
The electrical load management system optimizes aircraft power distribution, enhancing operational safety and efficiency.
Emirates’ Engineering & MRO Head, Ahmed Safa, emphasizes this agreement’s role in maintaining operational reliability, efficiency, and safety standards across their fleet.
GE Aerospace’s Regional Vice President Salim Mousallam outlines the program’s flexible design, focusing on cost reduction and maximizing aircraft availability. The comprehensive service package includes repairs, inventory management, program oversight, configuration control, engineering modifications, technical documentation, obsolescence management, and reliability analysis.
The agreement introduces a strategic consolidation of GE Aerospace’s Dubai inventory within Emirates’ facility. This integration aims to streamline stock availability and reduce lead times, enhancing overall service efficiency.
GE Aerospace customizes its Integrated Logistics Management and Performance-Based Logistics programs to meet specific customer requirements, targeting improved parts availability, supply chain efficiency, and reduced life-cycle costs.
Emirates’ Contribution to Dubai’s GDP
The 2023 analysis reveals aviation’s AED 137 billion (USD 37.3 billion) contribution to Dubai’s gross value added, representing 27% of the emirate’s GDP. This includes AED 94 billion in core economic impact and AED 43 billion from aviation-enabled tourism.
Projections indicate this contribution will reach AED 196 billion, constituting 32% of Dubai’s GDP by 2030.
The sector currently supports 631,000 jobs, accounting for 20% of Dubai’s employment. Employment forecasts predict 185,000 new aviation-linked positions by 2030, raising the total to 816,000 jobs. This growth builds upon findings from Oxford Economics’ 2014 report, which documented 417,000 aviation-supported jobs.
Dubai’s aviation expansion centers on the new AED 128 billion airport development. The facility will quintuple Dubai International’s current size, featuring over 400 aircraft stands and accommodating 260 million annual passengers upon completion. The first phase targets completion within ten years.
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Feature Image by Clément Alloing (@CAlloing) / X
