The extent of aircraft delivery and entry into service delays is legendary. Examples abound for carriers worldwide for both Airbus and Boeing equipment. Among the latest developments is that 
Emirates
has again pushed back the entry into service of its first Airbus A350
—it has done so on various occasions. This also impacts the rest of its A350 schedule. I always feel sorry for anyone who has paid to be on the first departure.
First destination delayed to December 16
As always, entry into service is subject to change, and Emirates is no exception. Earlier this year, the carrier planned its first revenue-generating A350-900 flight from Dubai to Bahrain on September 15, 2024. That came and went.
The carrier has 65 A350-900s on order. It had expected five deliveries by the end of 2024 (which almost certainly won’t be achieved now) and 10 by the end of March 2025. Some 50 aircraft are due by the end of 2027.
Photo: Airbus
While the first aircraft (to be registered A6-EXA) was expected to be delivered in August, it was pushed back to October. This necessarily changed service plans. Dubai-Edinburgh became the launch route, initially to see the brand-new subfleet on November 4, marking Emirates’ return to the Scottish capital after more than four years.
Alas, it changed again. While Edinburgh will still return to Emirates’ network on November 4, it will temporarily be on the Boeing 777-200LR.
Edinburgh is still down to become the A350’s launch destination. While this was previously expected to occur on December 2, it has been pushed back to December 16. The first aircraft is now due to arrive in November. As you’ll appreciate, all of this certainly could change again.
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Will any of these markets get non-stop flights?
Emirates’ A350s will have 312 seats
Each aircraft will have 312 seats and will, for now at least, be the carrier’s second-lowest capacity equipment after the 777-200LR (302 seats). Unlike most aircraft in Emirates’ fleet, there will be no first class. It will join the 777-200LR and one configuration of the 777-300ER and A380 in not having it.
Its A350s will be configured as follows:
- 32 business class flatbeds (eight rows of 1-2-1)
- 21 premium economy recliners
- 259 economy seats
All the other routes are delayed, too
Currently, Emirates still intends to fly the A350 to the same nine initial destinations as initially disclosed in May 2024. However, while five routes were to see the brand-new subfleet through January 2025, the latest information shows that three places now will: Edinburgh, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai.
Image: GCMap
Unsurprisingly, the following dates may change again, especially for those destinations in January and February, so treat it as a snapshot as of October 17. The information is from trawling through Emirates’ booking engine.
- Dubai-Ahmedabad: was to be on January 1, but currently scheduled on January 16 (daily)
- Dubai-Bahrain: was to be on January 1, but now on February 1 (double daily)
- Dubai-Bologna: was to be on January 1, but now on March 15 (daily)
- Dubai-Colombo: was to be on February 1 (changed in the past week from January 2), but now on March 1 (daily)
- Dubai-Kuwait: was to be on January 1, but now on February 1 (daily)
- Dubai-Lyon: still expected to be on March 1 (daily)
- Dubai-Mumbai: was to be on January 1, but now on January 16 (daily)
- Dubai-Muscat: still to be on March 1 (daily)