EK new order: 12 77W, 11 A380, 70 A350XWB

[Cathay 888]

After an intensive evaluation process, Dubai based Emirates Airline has signed a firm contract for 81 Airbus wide-body aircraft (50 Airbus A350XWB 900 plus 20 -1000, and 11 additional A380s) in an agreement which could eventually rise to 131 aircraft. The order was signed at the 10th Dubai Airshow between Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman, Emirates Group and Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO.

The order includes the firming up of eight A380 aircraft announced at Le Bourget in June plus an additional three. This brings Emirates’ total incremental A380 orders in 2007 to 15 aircraft making Emirates the largest A380 customer with 58 firm orders. In addition the contract also includes the possibility for an additional 50 A350 XWBs. The firm orders have a list price value of US 20.2 billion dollars.

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Emirates Chairman and Chief Executive said, “The A350 XWBs and A380s will play an important role in supporting Emirates' and Dubai's growth plans. As the leading international airline for the 21st century, it made sense for Emirates to choose the A350 XWB - an aircraft designed with 21st century technologies. It offers the latest efficiencies in operational economics and environmental performance, balanced with the latest passenger comfort. We are also adding more A380s to our order, to match our new growth plans which are aligned to Dubai's aim to attract 15 million visitors a year by 2012."

“Emirates Airline is placing great faith in our A350 XWB and A380 programmes as well as in our company and we are rightfully proud”, said Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO. “Our products offer unmatched performance and passenger comfort as well as reduced fuel burn which not only makes good business sense but is also good for the environment”, he added.

The A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) is Airbus’ response to market demand for a medium-capacity long-range widebody family. Designed with airlines’ priorities in mind, the A350 XWB confronts the challenges of high fuel prices, rising passenger expectations and increasing environmental concerns. Available from 2013, it has an entirely new, uncompromised, 21st century design with a wider and taller fuselage for extra space and passenger comfort.

Being greener, cleaner, quieter and smarter, the A380 is already setting new standards for air transport and the environment. The A380 has unmatched fuel efficiency and is significantly quieter than any other large aircraft flying today producing only half as much noise on take-off as the former largest commercial aircraft. The A380 has the roomiest and quietest cabin in the sky, and provides vital extra passenger capacity without increasing the number of flights. In a typical three-class, 525-seat configuration the A380 seat mile cost are 20 percent lower and range capability over 1,000 nautical miles longer than the former largest commercial aircraft.

Airbus is an EADS company.

Airbus is an EADS company.

http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/07_11_11_emirates_a380_a350.html ://http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentr...a380_a350.html

Emirates Airline today announced another historic civil aviation aircraft order, when it signed contracts for a 120 Airbus A350s, 11 A380s, and 12 Boeing 777-300ERs, worth an estimated US$34.9 billion in list prices.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Emirates’ Chairman and Chief Executive, announced the massive order at the 10th Dubai Airshow; and signed the contracts with Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO, and Lee Monson, Vice President Middle East and Africa Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

The agreement with Airbus comprises firm orders for 50 A350-900s and 20 A350-1000s, plus 50 options for the A350-900s. The first A350 will be delivered to Emirates in 2014.

Emirates also firmed up orders on the eight A380s for which it had signed letters of intent earlier this year, and placed firm orders for an additional three of the double-decker aircraft, bringing its total firm order for the A380s to 58.

The contract with Boeing is for 12 firm orders of the 777-300ERs, valued at US$3.2 billion. With this new order, Emirates now has 57 Boeing 777s pending delivery and is set to become the world’s largest 777 operator in the next few years.

Sheikh Ahmed also inked agreements Advertisement

today with Sir John Rose, Chief Executive of Rolls Royce for the Trent XWB engines to power Emirates’ new A350s; with Bruce Hughes, President of the Engine Alliance for the GP7200 to power its additional A380s; and with Scott Donnelly, President and CEO of GE Aviation for GE90 engines to power Emirates’ 777-300ERs.

In total, Emirates’ firm aircraft and engine orders announced today are worth US$23.4 billion – a value that increases to US$34.9 billion if the 50 options are included. This is the largest-ever aircraft commitment in civil aviation made by any airline in a single order.

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