Emirates flies into the future

The past four weeks have been a month of history-making for the aviation industry in the UAE.

The maiden flight of Emirates' first A380 superjumbo touched down in New York last night, less than three weeks after Etihad Airways ordered a record-breaking 205 aircraft at the UK's Farnborough Airshow.

The two Gulf carriers have stolen the limelight at a time when high oil prices have crippled many airlines. According to the International Air Transport Association (Iata), about 25 airlines around the world have collapsed since the beginning of the year due to the recent increase in oil prices.

But Emirates airline has not let up on its ambitious expansion targets, which show no signs of abating despite turbulent economic conditions.

"It's well documented that the rising oil price has had an impact on the aviation industry. Emirates believes the arrival of its first A380 signals the airline's intent to continue carrying out its development and expansion plans," an airline spokesman told Emirates Business.

Emirates said having the A380 – currently the world's biggest aircraft – in this region is "a coup" for the UAE and the Middle East.

"It highlights the fact that the Middle East has a strong aviation market that rivals other regions across the globe. It also shows that this region is one of the fastest moving, with Emirates one of the first airlines to secure the double-decker aircraft," the spokesman said.

Emirates first commercial flight with the superjumbo came just days after the carrier took delivery of the first of its order of 58 A380s at the official handover in Hamburg, Germany, from where it flew the aircraft to Dubai.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Group, on receiving the aircraft in Hamburg on Monday, said: "We have stood firm on our commitment to the A380. Our investment in the aircraft, including engines and in-flight features, exceeds $50 billion [Dh183.67bn], with $12bn spent in Germany alone."

Emirates has said it is due to receive five superjumbos in the current financial year, which ends March next year, with the second A380 due to be delivered in late September. The carrier is set to receive the remaining 53 by June 2013.

The inaugural flight to the Big Apple, which departed Dubai International Airport at 11am yesterday and touched down at JFK International Airport around 5pm local time, marks the first commercial A380 service of any airline to the United States. A delegation of senior Emirates officials, including Sheikh Ahmed and the company's President, Tim Clark, were on board the fully booked flight.

The first five 489-seater, long-range aircraft will be deployed on some of Emirates' busiest routes, including New York, London Heathrow (December 1), and Sydney and Auckland (February 1, 2009).

The fast-growing carrier has also ordered two other versions of the jet – a three-class, 517-seat medium range and a two-class 604-seat medium range.

The airline became the first to sign a firm commitment for the world's biggest commercial aircraft when it placed a deposit in July 2000 initially for seven, and then a further five planes, collectively worth $1.5bn.

Airbus delivered the first A380 to launch customer Singapore Airlines in October after an 18-month delay. The airline last year became the first carrier in the world to fly the superjumbo.

Emirates was originally due to receive the first of its A380s in October 2006. However, the programme was hit by repeated production setbacks. The delivery of the superjumbo takes Emirates' fleet to 118, including 108 passenger aircraft and 10 freighters.

GREEN AMBITIONS

Emirates has said it would save 500,000 litres of fuel per plane on the routes it flies because of the efficiency of the superjumbo's engines. The jetliner offers a fuel economy as low as 3.1 litres of fuel per 100 passenger km, which the airline cites as better than Toyota's Prius hybrid car that returns 4.4 litres per 100 vehicle km.

The mammoth plane burns up to 20 per cent less fuel per seat than the next largest aircraft.

"Emirates selected the A380 – and underpinned Airbus' decision to proceed with the programme – because it was planned to be, and is now proving to be, the most efficient aircraft flying today. It carries more passengers and yet burns less fuel, therefore producing fewer emissions," the airline said.

"Low fuel burn means lower CO2 emissions – the A380 produces only 75g of CO2 per passenger km, almost half of the European emissions target required for cars manufactured in 2008," it added.

The aircraft will carry on board an extra 500 litres of water weighing 500kg so that first class passengers can take advantage of onboard shower spas.

However, Emirates has said it is working with Airbus to further reduce the weight of its future A380 superjumbos by two tonnes and is considering everything from losing footrests in the economy class section to going completely paperless.

Expansion plans

Emirates airline last week announced orders for another 60 aircraft from Airbus, worth $11.8bn at list price, as it continues its buying spree to support the expansion of its international network.

The 30 Airbus A330-300s and 30 Airbus A350 XWBs on order are mid-sized aircraft that can be used for long-haul flights as well as throughout the Gulf.

The airline has said it plans to boost the number of flights it makes to Germany and hopes to soon add Berlin and Stuttgart to its network.

The numbers

58: The number of A380 superjumbos Emirates airline has on order from Airbus

$18.8bn: The collective cost of the 58 superjumbos on Emirates' order book

$11.8bn: List price of Emirates' order of a further 60 aircraft from Airbus

500,000: Number of litres of fuel per plane Emirates would save on the routes it flies with the superjumbo, making the aircraft one of the greenest

15,000: Number of kilometres the A380 can fly without refuelling thanks to powerful and fuel efficient Engine Alliance GP7200 engines.

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