I think this very interesting thread went a little out of focus thanks to 'ekpilot' and his remarks pointing out the obvious as we were all born yesterday.
I think delays to such a challenging program like the 380 could be expected. Its not the first time that happens (the 747 for example was delayed but it became a huge success). The a380 will come on line eventually and it will be a cool big mama . The question now is how EK is going to offset the potential loss of capacity in the next couple of years but I'm confident Ek will keep on growing no matter what because the hotel rooms in dubai must be filled and the whole show must go on. I see this temporary crisis as an opportunity to make good deals and I'm sure ek will.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061008/sfsu004.html?.v=3

I believe that the order for 10 747-800F's that Ferrydude's link refers to is the order that was announced at Farnborough. This was just a signing of the papers.

Me thinks this is in addition to Farnborough order, or so goes the hallway talk.
Confirmation should be imminent.

The above link is a Boeing press release picked up by Yahoo business. The opening sentence says this "finalizes" an order for 10..........So Gillegan is right, it appears this is just the signing ceremony. If it were a new order, there would be a lot more press by both parties, especially Boeing.

EK saved the right to buy more B748's. No order yet.
Check this: http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1160348877.html

October 8, 2006

Dubai-based Emirates said on Sunday it may buy 10 more Boeing freighter aircraft worth about USD$2.8 billion to tap the growing Middle Eastern air cargo traffic market.

Emirates secured the right to purchase the 747-8F planes, it said in a statement. Purchase rights do not include agreement on price. Emirates also confirmed an earlier order for 10 similar aircraft worth USD$2.8 billion.

"Our order for the 747-8Fs will be essential in helping us service our rapidly growing network of 28 freighter destinations," Emirates Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum was quoted as saying in the statement.

Middle East air cargo grew 5.8 percent last year by tonnage, said Emirates, which operates nine freighters among its fleet of 98 planes.

It also awaiting delivery of eight Boeing 777 freighters among more than 100 aircraft on order worth a total USD$30 billion.

Emirates ordered 10 Boeing 747 freighters at the Farnborough Air Show in July. At the time, it said the order was worth USD$3.3 billion.

A spokeswoman for Emirates could not explain the discrepancy with Sunday's confirmation price.

(Reuters)

allrightee then

original order was 10 plus 10 options.
suspect this is to firm up the later. Prob can turn them into pax jets later.
As to ekpilot (not EK pilot) while there are not and never have been any guarantee's for time to command, when accel. commands and DEC's were first mentioned we were told by the management, in person, at a pilots meetinge
"No F/O who meets the 3 yr and hrs requirement will have their commands delayed by said fast thracking"
It is this blatant lying that those affected are upset about

I believe Airbus are in town tomorrow to meet with TC etc and try and sort out some kind of mitigation

http://money.cnn.com/2006/10/09/news...ex.htm?cnn=yes

wow.... airbus. *no comment*

I think that the presvious comments were taken out of context and I am sorry if I upset some of my friends. I am very sad to see this airline behave the way it has towards its staff. But there is still no promises as an expat and I really agree with 411A on this. He is always winding people up but he does tell the truth and the company do not give even a small sh1t towards the people of this airline. There is not one manager that will listen to you and act on your concerns. They do not care that you are not going to be a captain when you thought you would be and there is all this rumour about things like the 380, the 747-800 and when the next deliveries will be and whether we still need DECs (now we definately don't) but what do we hear from this company that cares so much? NOTHING!!! One Captain told me a while back that the managers will just keep rotating in their seats until its its their time to retire and this is what I see now.

By the way, I am not the ******** you have to sit next to, I am an Airbus FO and I know how I feel about things. I have never been a Captain and that is just the way this career has gone for me. I did joing EMirates and they did say that it would be between 3 and 4 years, but I have been upset so many times that all I could think was it will happen when I pass the upgrade course and getting my extra salary. What these people tell you is just what they want you to hear so I do not listen anymore and the people that you can talk to cannot make any decision anyway.

Sorry again if I upset any of you I am just trying to make sense of things.

Good sources are telling me the extra 777's secured by Emirates to cover capacity shortfalls are not coming cheaply. Not that this has much effect on the emirates budget with plummeting gas prices but it may play into the Airbus/Boeing/Direct entry command argument.
Surely airlines such as Virgin Blue and Jet Airways where many of EK's commanders are speculated to be interested in, will opt for the cheaper alternative (Airbus). If just 20% of the Airbus Captains who say they want to leave go ,there will be enough new commands for everybody.

Dunno Fluke, I heard that TC bullied Airbus into giving us the 777s until the 380 comes. He reckons the 346 just is not competitive. If true, it is a helluva coup, have to grudgingly lift my cap to the Boss.

Someone will the 346s for sure, guess we'll just have to go there and hope we get treated better, but somehow doubt it.

Why would Virgin want to take the Airbus as well after EK has knocked it back. I believe VB has already sourced a few 777's.However I imagine the ER's are in scarce supply.

EK tried to get 9 777ers waited a day and only got 5 managed to get another 2 ,dont think any off them were free and not coming till late 08.So there is nothing to fill the short fall for the next 2 years unless they get some cheap buses (346s) and who cares if they burn extra gas EK wont be paying that fuel bill airbus will.Same as RR payed EK a bunch for the engine problems on the 500s

L1011

I don't know who is paying the leases for the extra 777's (Airbus or Emirates), all I heard that the discounts Emirates normally swing were not in place. Whether the 346 is competitive or not was a decision asked before the A380 delay was announced. That decision (to not confirm the A346 order), would surely have been reassessed with the latest developments.

Dunerider

Again I don't know why you would select an aircraft type when it has been openly critisised by other carriers and prefered 777 option exist. There are always other factors though : getting the a/c on the national register, ETOP's approval for a company that cannot maintain it domestically, leasing/finance costs, parent company influence, availability, manufacture incentives or payments like EK gets for the A345.


Who knows everything is political these days!

It was announced today on the local news in Seattle, that a middle eastern airline had cancelled their order for at least 20 A380's, and had decided to buy new B747's/777's instead.

Anyone know which airline?

Atleast 20 A380's means that its a company with an order of more than 20. And there's only 1 in the ME who have oredered more than 20. Doesnt take a genius to figure out which one it is. Would be interesting to what we can do to fill up for the delays....

Emirates cancelled some A340's. Might that be what you heard?

As they have just sent a team to audit Airbus before making any more A380 decisions, I doubt they will cancel just yet.

Emirates cancelled 340-600 and will lease 777 instead.