Emirates orders additional Airbus A380 Super Jumbos

Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, has signed a contract for an additional four Airbus A380 Super-jumbos.

The airline is the main launch customer for the aircraft and already had the largest number of A380s on order which has now been increased from 43 to 47.

Emirates will take delivery of its first A380 in the third quarter of 2008.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman & Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said: “We have repeatedly said we are committed to the A380 and, having now fully settled all past issues, this latest agreement should leave no one in any doubt about our faith in Airbus, the company and the quality of the aircraft we are committing to.

“The Airbus A380 will be instrumental in helping Emirates meet its growing passenger demand and will do it using one of the most efficient and greenest aircraft ever produced.”

“A repeat order for the A380 from a leading airline like Emirates is a huge vote of confidence for Airbus.  Emirates has great ambitions and we are delighted that our partnership which dates back to 1985, continues to grow from strength to strength.  I’d like to thank Emirates for their faith in Airbus and in our most modern aircraft – the world’s 21^st century ‘green giant’,” said Louis Gallois, Co CEO EADS and CEO Airbus.  “We are committed to satisfying our customers as they are to theirs.”

The order for the four additional A380s has been added to Emirates’ current order book for 105 new aircraft, worth approximately Dhs 111 billion ($30 billion) in list prices. Over the next eight years, the airline will continue to receive delivery of one new aircraft per month on average.

The Emirates Group recently reported its 19^th consecutive year of profit with a new record performance backed by continued double-digit growth.Group net profits increased 23.5 per cent to a new high of UAE Dirhams 3.5 billion (US $942 million) for the financial year ended 31st March 2007.

Emirates Airline’s profits of Dhs 3.1 billion ($844 million) also surpassed the previous year’s record profits of Dhs 2.5 billion ($674 million).

Contact:

Peter O’Sullivan, Professional Public Relations

Tel: (02) 9818 0916 email: [email protected]  visit: www.ekgroup.com/mediacentre

About Emirates:

Since its launch in 1985, Emirates Airline has received more than 300 international awards in recognition of its efforts to provide unsurpassed levels of customer service.

Emirates is the world’s third most profitable and among the fastest growing and 20 largest international airlines. It is based in Dubai, one of the few cities in the world that pursues an open-skies policy, with more than 110 airlines in free and fair competition.

Emirates operates services to 89 destinations in 59 countries in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa, Indian subcontinent and Asia-Pacific. The airline has also announced the launch of its services to Venice, Italy and Newcastle, UK this year.

From Sydney, Emirates currently operates 14 flights per week to Dubai – a daily non-stop service as well as seven flights per week from Sydney via Bangkok. The airline also flies double-daily services from both Melbourne and Perth, and seven flights per week from Brisbane, via Singapore.

Emirates operates 28 flights per week into New Zealand – daily into Christchurch from Sydney and thrice daily into Auckland from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.  Visit Emirates online at: www.emirates.com/au

Report by The Mole