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The Frustrations of Emirates Airline with Boeing
Emirates, the largest customer for Boeing’s biggest planes, is voicing its displeasure with the manufacturer due to significant delays in production and delivery. This frustration has been exacerbated by recent slowdowns following an incident involving an Alaska Airlines door plug blowout.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum’s Concerns
In a statement to CNBC, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, CEO of Emirates airline, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the ongoing situation. He emphasized the importance of the timely entry of new aircraft into their fleet, as initially promised. The delay in production is not unique to Emirates but is a broader issue affecting multiple airlines.
Emirates’ current fleet consists of 144 Boeing 777s and 116 Airbus A380s, as outlined in their most recent annual report. The airline specializes in long-haul flights, with the Boeing 777 capable of accommodating up to 426 passengers on these routes. With a predominant focus on long-haul operations, Emirates is eager to add more Boeing 777s to its fleet, in which they already lead the industry.
Emirates currently has 208 Boeing 777x passenger variants on order, showcasing a significant backlog of aircraft awaiting delivery. This backlog is part of Boeing’s larger order book, which includes 481 unfilled orders in total.
Industry-wide Discontent
Many airline executives have echoed sentiments similar to Al Maktoum’s, expressing discontent with lengthy wait times for Boeing aircraft deliveries. Some carriers, such as United Airlines, have resorted to leasing planes from rival manufacturer Airbus to mitigate delays. While Al Maktoum did not explicitly state Emirates’ intentions regarding such measures, he mentioned a comprehensive refurbishment initiative underway to enhance existing aircraft in the fleet.
Emirates has allocated a staggering $2 billion towards refurbishing old planes as they await new deliveries. Despite this substantial investment, the airline recently announced an expansion of this refurbishment project to further modernize its fleet.
Challenges for Boeing
Al Maktoum remains optimistic about Boeing’s ability to navigate through these challenges successfully. He stressed the importance of Boeing rising to the occasion and resolving the issues at hand promptly. While acknowledging the complexities involved, he believes that Boeing has the capacity to overcome these hurdles.
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