Emirates Wants Larger A350 & 777X

Emirates is continuing its push for larger aircraft to be built, prompting Airbus and Boeing to consider their own next-generation programs.

Aviation Week’s Daily Memo, by Jens Flottau, a highly regarded industry journalist, highlighted the requirement for larger versions of existing aircraft types to meet demand moving forward.

While Emirates has long championed the release of quad-engined aircraft models, such as the A380neo, this has not eventuated. As a result, if the company wants to acquire an aircraft it believes is ideal, it has to look to engage in discussions elsewhere.

Even though Emirates can continue to push for the release of larger aircraft, specifically through the A350 and 777X series, its two flagship long-haul products, it does not ultimately have the final say in whether a model will enter production.

What About Larger Planes For Emirates?

Across the 777X and A350 programs, the two largest models are the 777-9 and the A350-1000, respectively, but these bases are still unlikely to be seen as sufficient for Emirates as it moves into future decades.

One of the more highly touted models that has not been approved is the proposed 777-10, an extension of the 777-9. If released, it would serve as a stretched model with a larger capacity, becoming the largest twin-engine passenger plane ever built.

If executed, this model would feature a maximum capacity of well over 400 passengers in various configurations, providing premium airlines like Emirates the opportunity to experiment with their interior layouts.

During the 2010s, a feasibility study was conducted to explore what a prospective 777-10 would offer airlines and Boeing itself; however, for a host of reasons, progress has not been made on this model.

With challenges in the 737 MAX program and the 777X not having launched with customers, the release of a new model has seemed unlikely, given that priorities have been elsewhere in rebuilding the damaged business.

While technical feasibility offers the opportunity to launch, Boeing did truly look to consider the option, and it still means the company could act on the variant if it believes there’s enough interest and if it makes sense on all accounts.

Meanwhile, in recent times, there has been talk that an A350-2000 type model, essentially a stretched version of the A350-1000, could be appealing to some.

However, Airbus stated in 2019 that it was satisfied with its lineup; now, it is currently focusing on the A350F and A350-1000ULR as two upcoming models in the series.

A Request For The A380

Emirates’ request for larger planes has ultimately centred most of all around the Airbus A380neo, a prospective new engine model for the A380-800.

The Dubai-based carrier has on multiple occasions championed the release of this aircraft, hoping that Airbus will green-light the project, even confirming it would order many units.

Emirates has pushed so hard that it claims to have sent designs to Airbus to help launch the aircraft. However, despite its continued attempts throughout the 2010s and even into the 2020s, its dream aircraft has yet to arrive.

The A380neo, in essence, would offer improved efficiency with new engines, alongside other enhancements, making it a far more desirable option compared to its predecessor model.

Emirates remains the largest operator of the A380-800, having ordered over 100 units and, at its peak, operated more than 120 units, far exceeding any other airline’s commitment to the series.

As a result, the aircraft has become a cornerstone of the brand, and with the A380 no longer produced, Emirates has been left scrambling, not just trying to extend the life of the aircraft through the 2040s but also to find an adequate replacement.

However, with Airbus and Boeing not proceeding with their own dedicated replacements for quad-engined types such as the A380 and 747, Emirates is being forced to look elsewhere to obtain the capacity it so desperately requires, especially in slot-constrained markets.