Emirates president Tim Clark says that Emirates could use an additional 20 A380s on top of the 58 already on order, and is also evaluating options to accelerate delivery of some other aircraft.
Clark told Aviation Week that the airline would consider ordering the aircraft if Dubai International Airport (DXB) could be expanded to accommodate the aircraft. He noted that with development of the new Al-Makhtoum International Airport at Jebel Ali now being slowed that capacity at the two-runway DXB could become saturated, thus necessitating a need for more A380s.
The first stage of Al-Makhtoum is due to open in 2010, but Emirates says that it will take eight years for the new airport to be sufficiently developed to meet Emirates’s needs.
Clark also said that the airline is looking at possibly taking on aircraft delivery slots freed up by other airlines, particularly for the Boeing 777-300ER to prepare itself for a rebound in passenger traffic. The airline has also said that it may delay the phase out of its A330-200s, 777-200s and -300s and A340-300s which was due between 2010-2013 to provide interim capacity if necessary.
He also said that the airline would sell the 10 A340-500s it operates as they are no longer economic due to high fuel prices, but there is a lack of buyers for the aircraft.
