Emirates Delays A350 Debut

Emirates has been forced to delay the entry into service of its Airbus A350-900 by one month through a schedule update revealed by aeroroutes.com

The schedule adjustment changes the three first services initially expected to welcome the next-generation plane.

In May, the airline geared up for the first delivery of the A350 with the announcement of several destinations that could expect the aircraft first before anyone else.

Emirates expected the first A350 to enter service by September 2024, with Bahrain slated to receive the aircraft daily from September 15. On September 16, the carrier would commence flights to Kuwait using the A350.

Europe was expected to welcome the A350 starting in November, with Edinburgh revealed among the initial locations and Lyon and Bologna coming in December. West Asia, with Mumbai and Ahmedabad, was also slated to receive the aircraft in late October.

However, there have been several delays. The aircraft is expected to be deployed for the first time in December, and flights to Edinburgh are confirmed from the 2nd of the month.

Kuwait and Bahrain, two other cities initially meant to see the A350, will now get the aircraft from January 1, 2025, as part of a revision. They won’t be the only locations, with Bologna, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad, to name a few others.

Emirates expects the A350 to be a game-changer for their fleet long into the future. The aircraft has been carefully selected not to burden their current fleet composition but to enhance it.

Emirates has expressed considerable levels of excitement for the arrival of the A350. Notably, the airline cites the capabilities of the aircraft as impressive in allowing new markets to be reached while pressures will be eased on the existing fleet.

The first 10 Airbus A350s are expected to offer three cabin classes: 32 Business Class seats, 21 Premium Economy seats, and 259 Economy Class seats. This configuration is touted as the perfect aircraft for the short—to medium-haul market.