Emirates Expands Fleet with Eight New Airbus A350-900s at Dubai Airshow 2025
Emirates has placed an order for eight more Airbus A350-900 aircraft at the Dubai Airshow 2025. This move strengthens the airline’s long-term commitment to diversifying and renewing its widebody fleet. The agreement, priced at approximately $3.4 billion based on list prices, raises Emirates’ total backlog of A350-900s to an impressive 73 units.
The new planes will be equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engines and are expected to be delivered in 2031. Emirates has already received 13 A350-900 aircraft, with the inaugural flight taking place in November 2024.
Deliveries of New Aircraft Begin in 2031
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, emphasized the significance of the A350 in the airline’s operational expansion.
“The introduction of the Emirates A350 last November has added valuable capacity,” he noted. “It also allows us to showcase Emirates’ latest inflight offerings, including our sought-after Premium Economy seats. We are eager to partner closely with Airbus for the delivery of our remaining aircraft and the new models ordered today.”
This new order follows the airline’s announcement of 65 additional Boeing 777-9s earlier in the week. With these acquisitions, Emirates now has a total of 375 next-generation widebody aircraft on order, marking one of the largest commitments in commercial aviation for this class of aircraft.
“This is a substantial investment in our future, enhancing our service quality for customers while contributing to the aviation sector in terms of job creation and value generation,” added Sheikh Ahmed.
The A350-900: A Central Element of Emirates’ Fleet Strategy
The A350-900 has proven instrumental in allowing Emirates to explore new destinations and adjust its long-haul capacity effectively. The airline has already initiated plans for an expanded network of A350 routes by 2025, showcasing how this aircraft aligns seamlessly with its long-term growth vision.
Airbus welcomed Emirates’ renewed commitment to the A350. Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales for Commercial Aircraft, expressed satisfaction about the partnership, stating that the A350 remains essential for significant long-haul airlines.
“We’re delighted to see our long-term partner Emirates reaffirming its commitment to the Airbus A350, which sets the standard for long-haul travel. We’re excited to support Emirates in its expansion efforts with this leading widebody aircraft,” he remarked.
Rolls-Royce highlighted the Trent XWB-84 engine’s excellent performance, exclusively powering the A350-900 variant. Notably, this variant has been unaffected by recent inspection actions concerning the high-thrust XWB-97 engines used in the A350-1000.
Omar Ali Adib, Senior Vice President, Customer for the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia at Rolls-Royce, noted, “Today’s announcement reflects strong confidence in the Trent XWB-84, which has become the industry benchmark over the last decade due to its exceptional durability and low fuel consumption. This makes it a perfect fit for Emirates and its growth strategy.”
Strengthening Capacity for the Future
Emirates’ latest order for eight A350-900s follows closely after it confirmed an additional 65 Boeing 777-9s, raising its future deliveries to 367 aircraft composed of both Boeing and Airbus models, including 52 A350-900s.
With the addition of these A350-900s, Emirates’ fleet pipeline now includes 375 next-generation widebodies, with the mix comprising 60 A350-900s not yet delivered, 270 777-9s, 10 777 freighters, and 35 787s.
These two significant orders reinforce Emirates’ commitment to expanding its capacity well into the 2030s, emphasizing a dual-source strategy based around the A350 and 777X families. This strategy solidifies Emirates’ role as a key player in the global long-haul aviation landscape.
How do you see the future of air travel with these new advancements in the Emirates fleet?
