Emirates has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 aircraft, marking a significant milestone for the airline. The new aircraft, registered as A6-EXA, is the first of 65 A350-900s that Airbus will deliver to Emirates. This addition is notable as it is the first new type to join the fleet since 2008 when Emirates received its first A380.
The A350-900 was handed over by Airbus at Toulouse Blagnac Airport and will be flown to Dubai International Airport later today. According to Emirates, "Once the Emirates A350 lands in Dubai, the aircraft will receive its finishing touches at Emirates Engineering before being officially unveiled at a special event later this week." The delivery flight will use a blend of regular jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The airline plans for the A350-900 to enter commercial service in January 2025, with Edinburgh Airport set as its initial destination. Following this, eight more destinations across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East are expected to be added.