Emirates will take delivery of its last A380 aircraft six months ago, ending the Airbus SE superjumbo program that has proven to be too big to compete in the changing air travel market.< /p>
According to Arab Net, Emirates said in a statement that 3 more aircraft will be delivered by November, accelerating the schedule that was targeted in June 2022.
Emirates President Tim Clark said in the statement, "We have reached an agreement with Airbus to advance the delivery date of our remaining Airbus A380s and have secured funding for these units."
The A380 fleet will grow to 118 aircraft, including 6 with premium economy seats that have proven popular among leisure travelers as the coronavirus pandemic slashes demand. On first class and business class seats.
Emirates has long been a major customer of the A380, making it the cornerstone of its full wide-body fleet.
But the four-engine plane, which was developed to carry more than 500 people between major international destinations, was no match for the aviation market shifting toward point-to-point service. Point with smaller, more efficient planes.
Airbus said in February 2019 that it planned to end the program after Emirates scaled back its order. The pressure also increased after the pandemic struck a year later, forcing Emirates Airlines to ground the bulk of its fleet and lay off tens of thousands of workers.
The airline said last week that it plans to increase its services to Europe and other destinations. It also confirmed today, Wednesday, that it plans to continue operating the aircraft for another two decades. Premium Economy Seats models currently operate on London and Paris roads.
