Emirates could buy more aircraft from Airbus and Boeing and might take over orders its rivals are looking to delay as the airline prepares for the global recovery, Reuters reported.
The Arab world's largest airline, which has US$55 billion of orders with the two manufacturers, will see delays in delivery of A380 superjumbos ordered for mid-2010, hitting its route expansion plan.
"We are looking at it (buying more planes) ... we are making the assessments, but clearly with the growth we have and the profit we made, there is nothing to suggest after the recession we shouldn't move rapidly," said Emirates'president Tim Clark.
European plane maker Airbus has said it expects a spate of order cancellations and postponements by cash-strapped airlines this winter.
Emirates still had a letter of intent (LoI) with Airbus for 30 A330-300s and 30 A350XWBs, Clark said, but would not make any announcements at the upcoming Dubai Airshow.
"That LoI is still alive and not withdrawn," Clark said.
Clark said the airline's plans would be hit next year by a delivery delay in Airbus's A380. Emirates is the largest customer for the superjumbo, with 58 aircraft on order.
"We should have had 15 by June 2010 ... we are getting two in December and then the remaining 8 between January and November next year, so one or two are being pushed back."
Clark said he hoped Airbus's A380 assembly schedule would be back on track by 2011. "It's affecting what we could have done, but physically they can't get it out," he said. |
