‘We Need Aeroplanes, and We Need Them Now’ Says Emirates President

The world has hundreds of international airlines, but only a select few can call themselves "super connectors." These carriers channel huge amounts of traffic through a hub airport, resulting in an almost infinite combination of one-stop city pairings. 

Alongside notable competitors such as Turkish Airlines, Emirates has leveraged its geographic position to bridge continents and gain the "super connector" title. However, unlike its Istanbul-based counterpart, Emirates operates just two aircraft types: the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 777. But that’s set to change, effective January 2025. 

Emirates has 65 Airbus A350-900s, 30 Boeing 787s, and 205 Boeing 777Xs on order. The airline is also investing $4 billion in retrofitting 191 existing aircraft with new cabin interiors. This will extend their operating ability and tide the carrier over while new aircraft arrive to replace them.

On Monday, Emirates took delivery of the first of 65 A350 aircraft on order. The plane, bearing tail number A6-EXA, was flown from Toulouse to Dubai. Upon arrival in the UAE, it was presented to a select audience at the Emirates Engineering Center.

To describe the event as significant for Emirates is an understatement. It marked the airline's first new aircraft type since 2008 when the first A380 was inducted.

The new planes are crucial for Emirates. Not