EK775/776 DXB DUR DXB will upgauge from the current A332 to B77W on the June 1st.

Notable: First class (with Private Suite) offered
http://airlineroute.net/2012/01/19/ek-dur-jun12/

More capacity to Baghdad and Pakistan
http://airlineroute.net/2012/01/19/ek-iqpk-feb12/

TNR maybe? Emirates' commercial Vice President for Asia and Indian Ocean visited Madagascar in december.

http://www.lexpressmada.com/transpor...adagascar.html

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...-1-2012_pg5_19

EK will increase flights to Pakistan.

Right. I think I should wait for a while when they approved it. If they have a new bilateral agreements from Indian government. They will open-skies agreement.

QA will be the one to look for in India for the FDI or LH after they strike out a deal for BMIbaby. However knowing how things works it will either be a completely unknown PE investor or a new born shady company which will turn up with the wood. Lets see. Pretty interesting actually.

EK or EY have no plans to invest in any Indian carrier on a short or long term basis by any means.

EK is looking for an outstation base in South America to expand further & go global in the long term in the next 3 - 5 years. When I say base it does not mean putting EK aircraft there but to buy out the minimum stake inorder to use max landing slots and route feeder services along with 6th freedom rights which is the long term goal of EK to boldly go where no Asian carrier has gone before:D:p

Safe Flying

EGT

Talking about rumours

DUB:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showp...&postcount=118

NCL:
http://www.pprune.org/6957811-post2722.html

http://www.emirates247.com/business/...01-23-1.439022

Venezuela buying four A345 planes from the UAE.

We all knew EK is phasing out they're 343s, but I never saw this coming this soon unless it's a error with the newspaper.

If true some routes will be changing airframes soon.

These aircraft are most likely not Emirates frames. Etihad is operating exactly 4 A345 aircraft and it seems the article is talking about those four aircraft.

Never crossed my mind, makes sense, thanks.

If the article is accurate and these aircraft are infact 5 years old then I would have to agree since the EK frames are just under a decade old

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_(airline)

Just took a fast glance at EKs fleet info on Wiki, and for some reason it shows 5 A343s in the fleet now.

I have a feeling I was right about the newspaper making a mistake with the airframe types, they have a pattern of not doing enough research when it comes to aviation in the past.

Looks like EKs first phasing out has taken place.

EK's 8 A343s are still active. Seven aircraft were operating today, while one (A6-ERO) is undergoing a scheduled heavy maintenance check since January 8.

^ The article also includes that each of the A345s would be 'purchased', as EK doesn't actually own these aircraft (since they're leased) I also suspect that its EY's aircraft mentioned in the article. Will be interested to see when EKs first 343s are retired though, I think there has been a slight change in plans as the recent A/C schedules indicate there now keeping the 343s around a bit longer until about the first quarter of 2013?

With current W12 schedules, 2-4 (Depends on rotations) aircraft have no assignment after the 30th November.
There are also still rumours about the Venice flights going 345 or 777, meaning a further 2 to the sales yard.