Emirates chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum told reporters on November 11 that delivery of some of its Airbus A380s due for delivery next year will be delayed, but also noted that the airline may also order more of the type.
Sheikh Ahmed said the carrier will take delivery of two A380s in December and January, but other aircraft due for delivery later in 2010 are facing delays – seemingly due to issues with the manufacturer. “It’s a short period. Some aircraft will be delivered within a month or two of the original date,” he said. “We are not happy about it because we want the aircraft to be delivered on time.”
Sheikh Ahmed noted that the airline could also add more A380s and other aircraft to its fleet to take advantage of the changing global economic fortunes. The airline’s president Tim Clark also told Reuters that a Letter of Intent it has with Airbus for 30 A330-300s and 30A350XWBs was “still active”, although he said that the airline would not make any announcements at the upcoming Dubai Airshow regarding the LoI.
