Emirates president Tim Clark has said he would commit to a new order for 60-70 A380s if Airbus was prepared to invest and develop an “A380neo” variant of the superjumbo.
Clark’s latest statement isn’t the first time Emirates has publicly declared interest in a ‘new engine option’ A380, aiming at further reducing fuel burn.
The Gulf carrier is the world’s largest operator of the superjumbo and currently maintains a fleet of 52 A380s. It also has an existing order for a further 90, representing almost 45 per cent of the superjumbo’s total 318 sales.
Airbus’ hesitance to pursue the development of an A380neo variant is understandable considering the A380 has not attracted a new customer since Emirates top-up order for 50 more at last year’s Dubai Air Show.
Clark himself has admitted that convincing Airbus has been difficult, but outlined the benefits of the new variant, including double-digit improvements in operating economics, and the fact that engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce appears eager to work on the project, too.
“Rolls-Royce are in the market [to power an A380neo]. They’re quite keen to do that,” says Clark. However, the argument for an A380-neo variant “is not stacking up very well in Toulouse. Hopefully we can persuade them in the next six months or so.”
In other news, Emirates’ Clark has also continuously identified the U.S. as the carrier’s biggest potential growth market in the years to come.
Currently the nine U.S. destinations Emirates serves only account for seven per cent of its sales. Clark intends to change that.
The carrier’s rivals in the US, and the world over, continue to express their dissatisfaction with Emirates’ rapid global expansion, claiming the airline unfairly benefits from subsidies by the United Arab Emirates.
Clark has dismissed critics who have suggested Emirates enjoys an unfair advantage, but his wording is curious:
"If there's any subsidy, it's because the government does the right thing," Clark said, pointing to new spending to expand Dubai's airport infrastructure.
For more information, visit emirates.com and airbus.com
Dominic Lalk & Clement Huang
