Emirates to buy 36 Airbus A380s worth nearly £12 billion

Dubai-based Emirates Airline has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus to acquire up to 36 additional A380 aircraft.

The agreement was signed this morning at the airline’s headquarters in Dubai by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, and John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer Customers, Airbus Commercial Aircraft.

Glad to announce a commitment from @Emirates for 20 #A380 & 16 options, worth US$16 billion at latest list prices. The A380 has contributed enormously to the airline's growth and success while delighting passengers with a spacious, quiet cabin. https://t.co/yURhYChklZ #iflyA380 pic.twitter.com/OfyWCodzJ6

— Airbus (@Airbus) January 18, 2018

The commitment is for 20 A380s and an option for 16 more with deliveries to start in 2020, valued at $16 billion US dollars at latest list prices.

Sheikh Ahmed said: “We’ve made no secret of the fact that the A380 has been a success for Emirates. Our customers love it, and we’ve been able to deploy it on different missions across our network, giving us flexibility in terms of range and passenger mix.

He added: “Some of the new A380s we’ve just ordered will be used as fleet replacements. This order will provide stability to the A380 production line. We will continue to work closely with Airbus to further enhance the aircraft and onboard product, so as to offer our passengers the best possible experience. The beauty of this aircraft is that the technology and real estate on board gives us plenty of room to do something different with the interiors.”

“I would like to thank Emirates, HH Sheikh Ahmed, Tim Clark and Adel Al-Redha for their continued support of the A380,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer Customers, Airbus Commercial Aircraft. “This aircraft has contributed enormously to Emirates’ growth and success since 2008 and we are delighted that it will continue to do so. This new order underscores Airbus’ commitment to produce the A380 at least for another ten years. I’m personally convinced more orders will follow Emirates’ example and that this great aircraft will be built well into the 2030s.”

Airbus said earlier this week unless it can find more buyers for the A380 superjumbo, the program will come to an end.

The planemaker is set to build 12 A380s this year and a further eight in 2019 to fulfil existing orders but Airbus says the minimum annual number it is prepared to build each year is six.

Emirates took delivery of their 100th A380 during 2017, they are the main customer for the plane which can take up 615 passengers on long-haul flights.

Speculation grew that Emirates was set to announce an order for up to 36 A380 jets at the Dubai Airshow last October.

The order will see production of the aircraft into the 2030’s securing jobs at the A380 wing assembly plant in Broughton.