Emirates receives first Airbus A350; commercial service begins January

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Emirates receives first Airbus A350; commercial service begins January

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Airbus A380 | Airbus

By Sky Industry News

Nov 25, 2024

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.

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Emirates had faced delays with this delivery. Initially planned for August, it was postponed until November. When ordering an additional 15 A350-900s during the Dubai Airshow in November 2023, Emirates anticipated deliveries between August 2024 and early 2028. It remains unclear if these recent delays have impacted that schedule.

Before delivery, Aviation Flights Group records indicated that A6-EXA completed seven test flights under temporary registration F-WZGA. Originally intended for routes including Bahrain International Airport and others such as Kuwait International Airport and Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, changes were made due to scheduling adjustments.

Adnan Kazim, deputy president and chief commercial officer of Emirates, expressed optimism about the aircraft's potential: "With the latest generation cabin products including more of our sought-after Premium Economy to more cities...the Emirates A350 builds on our long-standing commitment of investing in the very best customer experience in the sky."

By February 2025, destinations like Ahmedabad and Kuwait are expected to be part of the network served by the new aircraft model.