Emirates has continued to make headlines at the Dubai Airshow, having kicked the week off with a huge Being widebody order. Away from such seismic pieces of news, it has also been working hard on the sidelines, with the fruits of its labors showing today in the form of a series of investments to maintain its Airbus A380s.
Keeping the A380 flying
While the Airbus A380 isn’t Emirates’ most numerous aircraft type, with ch-aviation showing that it has 119 in its fleet compared to 134 passenger-carrying Boeing 777s, the superjumbo is undoubtedly its flagship aircraft. With the double-decker quadjet having lost importance in recent years, Emirates has broken the mold by reaffirming its commitment to the type, underlined by its recent investments.
As Emirates explains in a statement published by the Dubai-based UAE flag carrier earlier today, it has poured more than $1.5 billion into a series of deals aimed at keeping the A380 in the skies for longer. With these investments, it hopes “to maintain and improve operational efficiency, as well as maximize fleet performance and [the] reliability of its double-decker fleet well into the next decade.”
Photo: Jean-Vincent Reymondon | Airbus
The fact that Emirates is working to make the best use of the A380’s lifespan while also improving its operational efficiency means that the type will continue to be at the forefront of its customer journey for years to come. This is also evidenced by the carrier’s ongoing internal retrofit program, which is valued at some $2 billion.
Working with various partners
Emirates is working with an interesting variety of trusted partners from across the aviation industry to ensure the longevity of its Airbus A380 fleet. For example, it has teamed up with Safran and Collins Aerospace to provide maintenance and overhaul services for the superjumbo’s front and main landing gear. Reflecting on the array of partnerships, Emirates President Sir Tim Clark stated that:
“The A380 has been and will continue to be very much part of the Emirates story. Our continued commitment to and confidence in the A380 are why we’re investing heavily to keep the fleet in optimal shape and pristine condition. The A380 will remain core to our network and customer proposition for the next decade, and we want to ensure our fleet is in tip-top shape.”
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
In terms of other components, Emirates has also teamed up with Honeywell and Pratt & Whitney to secure support for the Airbus A380’s wheels and brakes and its auxiliary power units (APUs) respectively. Regarding more general component matters, spare parts will continue to be supplied by OEMServices, a company with whom Emirates has already been working for some 15 years.
Joining forces Lufthansa Technik
Perhaps the most notable partnership of those that comprise Emirates’ latest investment in the A380 is its deal with Lufthansa Technik. As part of this agreement, the German flag carrier’s maintenance division “will provide Base Maintenance Services (BMS) for the airline’s A380s and will provide additional C Checks for the aircraft across the next three years,” with these taking place in Manila.
What do you make of Emirates’ latest investment in its Airbus A380s? Have you ever flown on one of these quadjets? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!