Emirates Welcomes First A350-900 Aircraft to Its Fleet

Emirates has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-900, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s fleet expansion strategy. This addition underscores the enduring partnership between Emirates and Airbus, built on a foundation of innovation, efficiency, and operational excellence. The A350-900 will enhance Emirates’ medium and long-haul operations, extending the airline’s reach beyond its existing network.

As part of its broader plan to support Dubai’s Economic Agenda—which aims to add 400 cities to Dubai’s foreign trade map over the next decade—Emirates has ordered a total of 65 A350-900s. The A350 will play a pivotal role in establishing the newly announced Dubai World Central (DWC) mega hub, further solidifying Dubai’s status as a global aviation leader.

The A350-900 is celebrated as the world’s most modern and efficient widebody aircraft. Its design incorporates state-of-the-art technologies, aerodynamics, lightweight materials, and the latest generation engines, which collectively deliver a 25% improvement in fuel efficiency, operating costs, and CO₂ emissions. The aircraft’s Airspace cabin is the quietest of any twin-aisle aircraft, boasting a 50% noise footprint reduction compared to previous generations.

Aligned with sustainability goals, the A350 is capable of operating with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Airbus aims to have its aircraft 100% SAF-capable by 2030. As of October 2024, the A350 Family has secured over 1,340 firm orders from 60 customers worldwide.

The Emirates A350-900 features three cabin classes, designed to provide optimal comfort for 312 passengers: 32 in business class, 21 in premium economy, and 259 in spacious economy. Emirates will also be the first airline in the Middle East to introduce Airbus’ new HBCplus satcom connectivity solution, offering seamless, high-speed global connectivity.

Apart from its newly delivered A350, Emirates operates two other aircraft types around the world to 140 destinations—the widebody Boeing 777 aircraft and the iconic ‘double decker’ Airbus A380 aircraft. The A350’s introduction will enable Emirates to expand into new destinations globally, including mid-sized airports unsuited for larger aircraft. The Emirates A350 will be delivered in two versions—one for regional routes and one for ultra long-haul routes.

The airline’s first scheduled commercial A350 flight is set to depart for Edinburgh on 3 January 2025. Following this, passengers can look forward to experiencing the Emirates A350 on flights to Bahrain, Muscat, and Kuwait in the GCC, as well as to European cities Lyon and Bologna, and West Asian destinations Colombo, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad. Additional new destinations, reachable within 15 hours from Dubai, will be announced throughout 2025, broadening travel options for Emirates’ customers.

Emirates’ commitment to expanding its fleet with the A350-900 will enhance passenger experience and operational efficiency, reinforcing its position at the forefront of global aviation.