Not enough aircarft at Emirates
 

Emirates To Lease A340s From Boeing

October 7, 2003

Emirates airline announced Tuesday it would lease eight used Airbus A340-300 jets from US planemaker Boeing to meet demand on long-haul routes.

Dubai-based Emirates gave no value for the deal to lease the planes, which Boeing took as trade-ins as part of a sale of its own 777 model to Singapore Airlines.

Emirates said in a statement that the eight jets would enter into service from March 1 on routes from Dubai to Shanghai, Casablanca, Johannesburg, Perth and Osaka.

"Even with the 71 aircraft we have on order for delivery by 2012, we urgently need still more," Emirates Group Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum said in the statement.

Government-owned Emirates has one of the fastest-growing fleets in the world, with about USD$26 billion in new planes on order, including 45 of Airbus's massive A380s, which will be delivered beginning in 2006.

It hopes to double its passenger traffic by 2010, building from its Dubai hub, the busiest airport in the Middle East and a key transfer point for international travellers.

Boeing agreed to take up to 17 A340-300s from Singapore Airlines in 1995 when the airline ordered Boeing 777s. Singapore exercised the option in 1999, when it opted to buy 10 more 777s.

(Reuters)

So where exactly have these aircraft been since 1999?

Hi there!

Is there any insider on how is going on EK's DECs recruitment process?

Newswhatcher,

As for the aircraft, like undreds, properly parked at some desert, a disputed space during this days of industry downturn.

This news coming from EK are undoubtely refreshing and give us hopes that this situation could be rebounding.