Emirates Airline on Friday finally received delivery of its second Airbus A380 superjumbo from manufacturer Airbus, after a delay of several weeks.

The second superjumbo, which brings Emirates’ all wide-bodied aircraft fleet to 122 inclusive of freighters, had been due to arrive in August but manufacturing problems related to the fitting of cabins is understood to have caused the delays.

The double-decked aircraft arrived in Dubai at 3.30pm local time, and will undergo standard checks and maintenance before entering commercial service on October 27.

Emirates A380 Landing

This increases Emirates’ A380 service on the route to once-a-day from Sunday. Emirates operates two flights a day to New York JFK, the second daily service using a Boeing 777-300ER.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates Airline and Group said: “Emirates has an environmental goal to operate the world’s most eco-efficient fleet and our second A380’s arrival will further reduce the airline’s average fuel use per passenger.

“By 2013, the arrival of at least 100 new aircraft and the retirement of some older aircraft will see a further improvement in Emirates’ overall fleet efficiency.”

The carrier is due to receive an average of one new A380 or Boeing 777 a month, as part of its order of more than 170 new aircraft from Boeing and Airbus.

Emirates has another 56 A380 aircraft on firm order, of which two more will be delivered before the end of 2008.

Source: Arabian Business

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