Emirates has postponed the debut of its first Airbus A350 service due to delays in aircraft deliveries. Originally scheduled for September 2024, the launch is now set for early November of the same year. The inaugural flights will fly to Edinburgh, followed by services to Bahrain and Kuwait later in the month.
Emirates had ordered 50 Airbus A350s in 2019 and added 15 more to its order in 2023, bringing the total to 65 aircraft. The airline plans to have the first ten A350s in its fleet by March 2025 but faces likely delays due to the current supply chain challenges.
Airbus, facing shortages of engines, cabin equipment, and other parts, adjusted its 2024 delivery goals to around 770 aircraft, down from the initially expected 800. The planned production rate increase for Airbus A320neo family aircraft has also been pushed back to 2027. This decision takes into account potential disruptions to the global economy, air traffic, and supply chain.
Emirates, a major customer of Boeing’s delayed 777X widebody program, is expected to deal with further delays possibly until 2026. The 777X, initially planned for service in 2020, has faced setbacks similar to those of Airbus due to ongoing challenges in the aviation industry.
