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Emirates President Calls Out Airbus Over Mixed Signals on Wide-Body Plans

Emirates President Tim Clark had some choice words for Airbus officials over the “cloudiness” of the European aviation giant’s strategy behind its wide-body passenger plane program.

Emirates President Tim Clark is not happy with Airbus and he isn’t making a secret of it. In fact, according to a Bloomberg Business report, the airline executive lambasted the aircraft manufacturer this week.

Frustration by Emirates over manufacturing priorities at Airbus has been building in recent months. Officials at Emirates have made it clear that they would like to see an upgraded A380 that would more closely meet the Gulf carrier’s unique needs. While Airbus officials have hinted that an improved A380 is a possibility, executives have backed away from that position in recent weeks. Airbus Chief Operating Officer in charge of sales, John Leahy, is quoted as characterizing a next generation A380 as “nothing imminent” and saying that the airline would not even be in a position to go ahead with the program until the middle of the next decade.

“There seems to be a certain amount of cloudiness,” Clark told industry leaders gathered at the ITB Travel Fair in Berlin this week. “They’ve got the A380neo and then bingo, out pops the new A350-1000. I’m not quite sure how that’s going to pan out.”

Clark told those gathered at the event that Airbus’ apparent new focus on producing an even larger stretch version of the A350-1000 will leave precious few resources to develop the A380neo. Bloomberg reports that Emirates officials are now considering Boeing Dreamliners as a replacement for next-generation A380s the airline had hoped to purchase.

[Photo: Daniel Munoz | Reuters]

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9 Comments
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airsurfer March 20, 2016

The problem is that the A380neo should be a twin engine like the 777X. Quad engine planes are not of this era anymore. And another possibility might be that EK orders both 350s and 787s, just like they have both 777s and 380s.

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bevotex March 15, 2016

EK isn't hesitating between B777-X and A350. They have already ordered 150 777-X. They are looking for a regional replacement/growth aircraft and the are trying to decide between the 787-10 vrs, 350-900

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weero March 15, 2016

If EK really could get the Y seating they aspire for, they may indeed fit the same amount of passengers into the Dreamliner as in the A380 ...

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bobdowne March 14, 2016

it seems like in the middle east, in aviation, as though it is always a big melt down/ tantrum if they don't get what they want. immediately! tim seems like he could do with a nice rest.

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FlyingWithers March 12, 2016

So funny. Like the non-Gulf cares. Assume the problem with the current 380 is that it is not quite large enough for Fifa football games on long flights.