Emirates has signed for eight additional Airbus A380s, bringing to 55 its total order of this advanced double-decker aircraft.HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, signed the Letter of Intent with Airbus President and CEO Louis Gallois, at the Paris Air Show. The deal is worth an estimated US$2.6 billion in list prices.

Sheikh Ahmed said: “The A380 is a technologically-advanced aircraft that fits perfectly with our projected growth strategy. Every single one of the A380s we have ordered has been carefully planned for Emirates’ present and future requirements.

“The A380 will be instrumental in helping Emirates meet its growing passenger demand using one of the most efficient, quietest and greenest aircraft ever produced. It will give us some of the lowest seat costs in the industry, and will allow us to offer more passenger comfort and amenities onboard.” 

 

Mr Gallois said: ““It gives us a great sense of pride that Emirates Airline are showing such faith in our A380 product and in Airbus. We thank Emirates Airline for this. Some have labelled the A380 the “gentle giant” and certainly at Airbus we are very proud of the A380’s environmental friendliness with levels of fuel efficiency that will help make aviation better for all.”

 

Emirates will take delivery of its first A380, powered by GP7200 engines, in the third quarter of 2008.  The eight additional aircraft ordered today are expected to be delivered over 16 months, starting from July 2011.

 

This is the second additional order this year that Emirates has placed for the A380 - in May 2007 it signed a firm order for four additional A380s. One of the world’s most successful and fastest-growing international airlines, Emirates current order book of 118 wide-bodied aircraft is worth over US$30 billion including: 55 Airbus A380s, 51 Boeing 777s, and 12 Boeing 747 Freighters.
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